  In the context of the infrared triangle there have been recent discussions on
the existence and the role of dual charges. We present a new viewpoint on dual
magnetic charges in $p$-form theories, and argue that they can be inherited
from the charges of a first order formulation as a topological BF theory with
potential. This happens because, depending on the spacetime dimension and on
the form degree, the so-called translational gauge symmetries of BF theory
become reducible and therefore admit zero-modes. Although such zero-modes lead
to trivial symmetries of the $p$-form theory, they are associated with
non-trivial charges. These turn out to be precisely the dual magnetic charges.
The centrally-extended current algebra of electric and magnetic charges in the
$p$-form theory then descends naturally from that of BF theory. This is an
effort towards finding an existence criterion for dual charges.
