Members of a “hit squad” mulled by President Rodrigo Duterte would have to undergo processing by the Philippine National Police, said Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday.

“Hindi naman ‘yung sinabi niya na aarmasan niya basta-basta ‘yung mga [sibilyan]. Those that are qualified to handle firearms and to be owners of licensed firearms [will only be allowed],” Albayalde said.

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On Tuesday, Duterte said that he might “be forced to create my own Sparrow (unit),” referring to the former urban hit squad of the New People’s Army (NPA) known for assassinating policemen and soldiers during the time of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.

The President said members of his unit, which he dubbed as “Duterte Death Squad,” would be posted in public places like transport terminals to “look for idlers who are prospective (NPA) members and take them out.”

READ: Duterte says he’ll form death squads vs Reds

“Kung talagang qualified ‘yung tao sa lugar (If people are really qualified) they have to undergo processing also,” Albayalde told reporters, referring to their qualification of owning firearms.

He said the firearms should also be licensed and the civilians should have permits to carry guns.

Earlier, Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said he was ready for a full-scale war declared by Duterte against the rebels.

“You want war? Bring it on!” Sison said.

But Albayalde only scoffed at Sison’s threat.

“Hanggang ‘yun lang naman [ang threat]. Paano ka matatakot sa isang taong walang kontrol sa mga local territorial units nila (The threat stops there. How will you be afraid to someone who does not have control in their local territorial units)?” he said.

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He also noted that the government also decided to focus on localized peace talks since Sison “does not have a say” in territorial units of the CPP. /cbb

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