PNoy offers to teach prosecutors how to shoot

President Benigno Aquino III, a gun and practical shooting enthusiast, on Thursday offered his services to be a shooting instructor to prosecutors who want to own guns to defend themselves. In his speech during the 23rd national convention of the Prosecutors’ League of the Philippines (PLP) held in General Santos City, Aquino acknowledged the danger prosecutors are facing when doing their job. “Sana po, kaninang umaga noong nag-a-almusal kayo, hindi po death threat ang inyong almusal. Alam niyo po, itong trabaho ninyong pagiging prosecutor, akala siguro ng iba, madali lang. Pero para sa isang taong pamilyar sa proseso ng batas, alam kong kaliwa’t kanan ang pagdikdik at pagsakal sa inyo ng mga pino-prosecute ninyo," he said, (I hope that this morning, you were not eating death threats for breakfast. You know, this job you have as prosecutors isn’t as easy as others might think. But as one familiar with legal processes, I know that you are getting hammered and strangled left and right by those people that you prosecute.) Aquino said his administration cannot allow “mere intimidation to stop us from doing our jobs." “We are also concerned about the dangers you face, especially when taking on high-profile cases. Your work is an important part of our anti-corruption campaign," he said. He said a security orientation was conducted last February by the European Union-Philippine Justice Support Program, together with the Department of Justice (DOJ), to make the prosecutors more security-conscious. “We are hoping to conduct more of them in the coming months," he said Aquino added that the DOJ, the Philippine National Police, and the PLP have signed a Memorandum of Agreement that will prioritize the firearms license applications of the prosecutors. “Since I am now the foremost prosecutor, if you need a so-so instructor, I am also willing to volunteer," he said. “Of course I can defer to my senior also in public service, [Ilocos Norte Rep.] Apo Rudy Fariñas, to be a better instructor," he added. The President said with the pressure prosecutors are facing, it is very easy to give in to temptation. “Huwag sana ninyong tularan ang iba na agad nababaligtad ang paninindigan oras na lapagan sila ng sako-sakong pera," he said. (Hopefully, you won’t take the path of others who promptly reverse their stand once sackfuls of cash are offered at their feet.) Aquino assured the prosecutors that his administration is fixing what needs to be fixed “to allow you to do your jobs to the fullest of your capacities." “In fact, we have increased the Department of Justice’s allotment for prosecution services by more than P260 million in the General Appropriations Act of 2011," he said. He added that the budget for the Witness Protection Program has been increased by almost 80 percent, from around P84 million to P151 million, “to take better care of our witnesses, as they are exposed to similar dangers." “This will allow us to protect a total of 640 witnesses and whistleblowers," the President said.—JV, GMA News