Duterte mulls reviving batons for cops; but says rattan sticks to suffice

December 8, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday night that he might arm again the policemen with rubberized batons but in the meantime, the use of rattan sticks would suffice.

He  made the statement after Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano reported during the taped televised meeting with him in Malacanang said that his office and the Philippine National Police put up the "yantok (rattan sticks) patrollers."

"The policemen have one-meter rattan stick. This will be used to measure physical distancing and if there are criminals who will commit crime, this can be used for self-defense. This is similar to using a baton before," Ano said.

This prompted Duterte to bring up the possibility of arming again the cops with baton.

"If I will return the baton, maybe I will return it, but rubber, not wood. But in the meantime, the rattan will do, will suffice. We'll look for the money next year, we'll buy the baton and the baton will be used, not the gun," he said.

Duterte wondered why the use of baton by the policemen was removed.

He said that a rubberized baton could easily help subdue a suspect trying to resist arrest.

The use of baton could be the law enforecers' first line of defense and not the gun, he said.

"The police can use a not so lethal weapon, the baton, rubberized. Hard, but not enough to break the bones (of the suspect)," Duterte added. Celerina Monte/DMS