DILG 7 Assistant Regional Director Pete Noval said, however, the recipient barangay captains still have to follow the rules and regulations set by the Philippine National Police, especially requirements, in carrying firearms.

Noval said arming government officials is provided for in the Local Government Code "in the exercise of their function to maintain peace and order in their jurisdiction." But there is no special rule that exempts barangay officials from the requirement of securing permits from the police.

Osmeña said he wants to arm chairmen of mountain barangays with M16 Armalite rifles because there are not enough policemen who could be fielded in the remote areas.

"I want to make them self-reliant. We have to be creative in improving peace and order," he said.

The mayor’s statement was greeted with applause during the general assembly of the Association of Barangay Councils held recently at the Tambuli beach resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

At least 20 of Cebu City’s 80 barangays are located in the hinterlands.

The mayor said he will ask the city council to approve a R2-million outlay for the purchase of brand-new firearms and ammunition.

Mayor Osmeña said he often received complaints from barangay captains, especially those in the mountains, about the lack of policemen to maintain peace and order in their villages.

With the 900 policemen detailed at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), the mayor said it is impossible to field enough to cover the mountain barangays. By issuing M16 Armalites, which are similar to those issued to members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, the mayor said, "we are not trying to reduce the demand for policemen (in the mountain barangays), but we are trying to double the size of the police force."

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio, meanwhile, agreed with DILG’s observation that mountain barangay captains are not exempted from securing permits from the PNP for carrying firearms that will be issued to them.

Alarcio said that he endorses the plan of Mayor Osmeña to arm barangay captains, saying it will help the police maintain peace and order, especially in the mountain barangays of Cebu City.

Alarcio admitted that Cebu City needs more policemen but the PRO 7 still could not fill the number of needed lawmen.

He said, however, that barangay captains must follow the rules and regulations of the PNP, adding that firearms must remain in the hands of the barangay captains and should not be used by barangay tanods.