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[av_heading heading=’Barangay officials, tanods back PNP’s ‘batuta order’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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ILOILO City – Only batuta (truncheons) for barangay tanods? No problem, according to barangay officials and tanods this paper interviewed.
The city’s Liga ng mga Barangay president Reyland Hervias said barangay tanods on duty are only allowed to carry batuta, echoing the statement of Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
It is possible that some barangay tanods may have licensed guns but they are prohibited from bringing these to work, he stressed.
Dela Rosa ordered the arrest of barangay tanods carrying firearms while on duty.
Just obey the police’s directive, Hervias advised barangay tanods.
A 37-year-old tanod in Barangay East Timawa, Molo district, Maribeth Laquian, said not bringing guns is safer for village watchwomen like her.
These are not needed to ensure peace and order in her village, said Laquian, because her constituents are levelheaded and easy to talk to.
“Diri sa amon, ang mga tawo madala man lang sa laygay,” she said,
In Barangay Tanza Esperanza, City Proper 54-year-old barangay councilman Samuel Robinas said they seek police assistance if a situation gets out of hand so there is no need for tanods to carry firearms.
On tanods with guns, he said, “May pusil ka, ibutang mo lang sa ‘tsakto nga lugar.”
According to Barangay Captain Noel Odicta, 53, of Tanza Esperanza, his tanods are equipped with truncheons only.
Should any of his village watchmen are seen with guns, Odicta said, “Tawgi niyo ako kay ako madakop sa ila.”
Dela Rosa ordered the arrest of armed barangay tanods following a bloody shooting involving village watchmen in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila on Dec. 28, 2017.
The PNP, he said, considered barangay tanods as generally helpful of the police “pero kung ang tanod ang source ng problema e ibang usapan na ‘yan.”
Dela Rosa has long been vocal against proposals to arm village watchmen. He said unscrupulous local government officials may turn the tanods into private armies.
“Hulihin lahat ng tanod na armado. Magalit na ang magagalit, wala akong pakialam. They (tanods) are not authorized to bring firearms. I’m giving instructions to all chiefs of police,” said Dela Rosa./PN
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