MANILA – Despite drawing criticism, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted policemen to use batons made of rubber as their first line of defense against criminals resisting arrest.
“When a person resists arrest and he becomes violent, the first impulse of a police without a baton is to hold his gun. He might not draw it but he holds his gun, ready for action,” Duterte said in his recent public address.
“Kung may baton ito, rubberized man ‘yung baton noon, kung mahampas mo lang ang kamay, maybe you can subdue the person resisting arrest or the criminal,” he added.
Duterte said the government will look for funds to purchase rubber batons.
“Kung ibabalik ko ‘yung baton, balik ko siguro ‘yung hard rubber. In the meantime, rattan will also suffice. We’ll look for the money next year. I’ll buy you the baton. Gamitin ‘yung baton, huwag ‘yung baril,” said Duterte.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, meanwhile, suggested the use of one-meter rattan sticks to enforce physical distancing.
“Kung mayroong mga kriminal na gagawa ng anumang kasaaman, puwede rin gamitin itong pang self-defense. Katulad lang naman ito na gumamit ng batuta noon araw,” Año said.
Recently, Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield chief Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag announced plans that law enforcers would use rattan sticks to enforce the one-meter distancing rule in public. The police official said the stick could also be used against stubborn persons flouting the health protocol.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier said “yantok” or rattan stick may be used to measure the safe distance between people but not as a weapon to hit them./PN
