Provincial Board Member Arturo Umbac Jr. yesterday said he does not want to question the wisdom of local government units planning to acquire guns and ammunition for official use.

Umbac made the statement in the wake of proposals to arm judges,

media personalities and barangay officials, among others.

He recalled that the provincial board had invalidated the proposal of the town of Sibulan to purchase guns because it was trying to regulate the use of firearms.

Umbac said there are existing laws that govern the possession and carrying of firearms, and it is the right of every citizen to possess the same to protect themselves, provided they acquire pertinent documents.

He said it is within the power of LGUs to allocate funds for such purpose.

However, civilians carrying firearms will only be inviting the criminals to take advantage of the situation, he said.

Umbac instead suggested the strengthening of the intelligence network down the barangay level, and allocation of a certain amount of the intelligence fund to monitor activities of new faces in the barangay.*

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