Guevarra reiterates DOJ’s call to arm state prosecutors

Prosecutors should be armed to protect themselves despite the presence of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Sunday.

According to Guevarra, allowing the prosecutors to carry firearms would boost law enforcement in the country.

“Arming the prosecutors is of course merely in addition to heightened police law enforcement activities,” Guevarra said in a text message.

READ: DOJ’s call to arms: Time to fund guns for prosecutors

“We expect the PNP to vigorously help our prosecutors in the government’s campaign against criminality, but the police will not always be there at the time of an ambush or attack,” the DOJ chief added.

The prosecutors should, however, decide if they would like carry firearms to work.

“We just want to give our prosecutors a fighting chance. In any event, whether to arm themselves or not is purely the individual prosecutor’s decision,” he said. /ee

READ: What went before: Crime against prosecutors

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