Pledge to arm Philippine community chiefs sparks 'Wild West' fears

The proposed plan to offer firearms to barangay chiefs was slammed by opposition politicians
The Telegraph (UK)
Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The Philippines interior ministry plans to acquire pistols for community leaders willing to fight crime, sparking fears of more lawless bloodshed in the country’s violent crackdown on drugs. Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine president, said that he was considering arming community leaders, known as “barangay” captains, after pledging that officials who opted to fight the war against drugs would have his full support. Last week he promised to provide the same legal protection to barangay captains as he did to soldiers or police, vowing that they “will never go to jail” if they shot suspected criminals while performing their official duties.