SANTO DOMINGO.- Two senior bishops are in favor of disarming the civilians, especially the criminals and called on the authorities and society to join forces to confront the crime wave that affects the country.

Monsignor Archbishop emeritus Juan Antonio Flores said it’s necessary to disarm the population, but admits that it’s necessary to disarm the thugs first.

He said the police needs professionalism, because if they aren’t educated excesses on the part of the authorities can be expected, killing innocent people or without a hearing, or trial. “We must have the Police with education, pay them well and not indiscriminately admit those who want to be in the police."

For Higuey Diocese bishop Nicanor Peña, crime in the country has increased mainly due to the family’s decomposition and the distribution and consumption of drugs, which he said has reached an incalculable dimension.

He also favors the population’s disarmament because it’s a cause of incidents that bring about deaths and deplored the arms in the hands of civilians and criminals. "I believe that the authorities must take exemplary measures before the robberies, crimes and assaults, because sometimes crimes are committed and people are not punished, as they should be punished.”