Tanods vow to work harder if armed

Many tanods in different barangays of Cebu City assured that their performance in the maintenance of peace and order in their respective places will greatly improve once the government will provide them with firearms.

Bryan Mabaga, a tanod of barangay Lorega-San Miguel, said he will work harder for the maintenance of peace and order in their barangay if he will be provided with a firearm that could be used to protect himself from any possible retaliation from criminal elements.

Tanods in barangay Pahina Central also vowed to do their best once Mayor Tomas Osmeña will grant the request of their barangay officials to purchase guns for their use.

The FREEMAN learned that when the government offered an amnesty program for those holders of loose firearms from April to September 30 last year, some of the tanods availed of such by buying locally-made guns to have these licensed.

The barangay officials of Pahina Central under barangay captain Sisinio Andales had asked Osmeña to provide guns to selected tanods or those qualified to possess firearms.

According to Andales, only those tanods who passed the gun safety seminar, drug test and psychological test are qualified and, therefore, allowed to carry firearms.

But while the tanods are still not allowed to carry guns, The FREEMAN learned that many of them are keeping their unlicensed firearms being frontliners in the fight against criminality in the barangays.

Some tanods were reportedly already arrested for bringing unlicensed guns and are now facing charges for illegal possession of firearms before the city prosecutor's office and courts. - Rene U. Borromeo