Ano says Duterte reminded him about giving guns to BFP for operations

January 31, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said he was reminded by President Rodrigo Duterte about giving handguns to Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel for self defense during operations.

In an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Prospects Forum Thursday, Ano said the plan was announced by Duterte during the BFP anniversary last year.

“And when we were in San Isidro, Leyte we had a talk with the president and he reminded that he want that program continued arming the BFP with just handguns,” he said.

Ano said they will make sure all BFP personnel will have proper training and they will be responsible users.

The interior secretary said fire fighters will use their firearms for self-defense and on case-to-case basis.

“They are always doing their firefighting function. Their firearms will be more as uniformed personnel at least they have firearms for self-defense and other missions in the future. So far there is still no mission,” Ano said.

He said sometimes BFP personnel are being tapped such as raids on cigarette factories.

Asked if they have a budget for that program, Ano said it will be coming from the Office of the President.

“Funds for the firearms will be coursed from the Office of the President. We are talking of 29,000 more or less BFP personnel,” he said.

Last August 2019, Duterte told BFP he wants to arm them to help the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintain peace and order. Ella Dionisio/DMS