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Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the provision in the BFP Modernization Bill authorizing firefighters to carry guns

The mandate of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is to prevent and suppress all destructive fires towards saving lives and properties. The inclusion of a provision in the BFP Modernization Bill authorizing more than 2,000 firefighters to carry guns is tangential to this role.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) shares the concern of the proponents in ensuring the security of our firefighters. CHR also believes that firefighters deserve equal protection in the performance of their mandate. However, in extremely tense situations, such as fire in communities, bearing arms might cause more harm than good.

In most scenarios, panic and commotion ensue because people are fighting to have their homes and properties prioritised by firefighters.

Arming firemen will not contain fires nor can it enhance the efficiency of the firefighters’ performance of their duties and functions. However, such challenges can be addressed by using the budget for the purchasing of guns to buy more firetrucks, hire more firemen, and build more fire stations to respond adequately to residential and non-residential fires. If there are sufficient firetrucks and firefighters, civilians during fire will not fight over to grab the water hoses to contain fire in their houses and properties.

Under the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, the BFP is required to establish at least 1 fire station with adequate fighting facilities and equipment in every province, city, and municipality. Modernising the BFP should ultimately head towards improving their presence, capacity, and delivery of their duty. Providing security in the community is the mandate of law enforcement officers, which the BFP may request from the Philippine National Police based on the Fire Code of the Philippines.

At the same time, government should also equally address other challenges in addressing fire incidents, such as road congestion that cause delay in the arrival of firefighters; faithful enforcement of the Fire Code to ensure adherence to standard fire prevention and safety measures; and other operational gaps.

It is the policy of the State to ensure public safety and allow citizens to reach their fullest potentials in life by mitigating barriers, such as destructive fires. To this end, we urge the government to look deeper into the challenges of upholding this duty to find better match solutions to problems. ###

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