Citizens’ empowerment may be the key ingredient to keeping a community relatively crime-free.

Local politicians and civil society seem to be in agreement that there is room for greater public participation in government’s campaign against crime. This, amid mounting discontent over an apparent escalation of violent crime nationwide.

Councilor Rannie Ludovica of the 2nd district of Quezon City said that lawless elements have more than just the police to worry about with a new city ordinance on citizens’ arrests. He said the measure, which sets clear guidelines on the apprehension of suspected criminals by non-law enforcers, took full effect after it was signed by Mayor Herbert Bautista. He added that the new city ordinance also penalizes police personnel who refuse to act on valid arrests made by civilians.

Meantime, PRO Gun Secretary General Ticky Tabujara said that a legally-armed populace is the best defense against criminality. He lambasted the Philippine National Police (PNP) for making legal gun ownership by private citizens a needlessly laborious and difficult chore. He added that the PNP should be put under the microscope in light of the long list of violent crimes involving policemen in active service.

In the episode of General Assignment last August 27, Ludovica and Tabujara agreed that the mobilization of more private citizens in crime prevention is an idea that is long overdue.

(Video courtesy of GNN)

–Staff Report