Tanod ‘kills’ man at barangay hall

A hearing meant to settle differences between two parties at the barangay hall turned bloody even before it could start late Thursday night.

When the smoke cleared, a man lay mortally wounded in the premises of the barangay hall of Catarman, Cordova town.

The victim, who was declared dead on arrival when responding policemen brought him to the Lapu-Lapu District Hospital, was identified as Lee Potot, 37 years old of barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

He was allegedly mauled and stabbed by Crispin Pinote, 35, a barangay tanod, who was reportedly helped by several by standers. Pinote reportedly fled the scene after the incident and remains at large.

PO3 Rolando Tagsip of the Cordova Police station told The FREEMAN that Potot was at the barangay hall to attend a hearing that was for his wife Gwendolyn and siblings Rey Casquejo and Carlota Largo.

Though Potot was a resident of Talamban, he frequented Catarman to visit his relatives and attend to his insurance business.

According to Tagsip, while Potot’s wife and the opposing party were waiting for the confrontation hearing to start, the victim was seen talking with barangay councilman Roland Escabas, who heads the peace and order committee.

Potot reportedly suddenly became angry and shouted, “Inyo ning barangay, inyo ning Kapitan,” before he turned his back on the councilman.

Pinote, who was on Potot’s way when he stormed out, was punched by the latter on the face resulting to an altercation.

The tanod then allegedly stabbed Potot in front of many witnesses.

Police are still investigating if others also stabbed the victim.

PO2 Calixto Botantan and SPO3 Felix Espinosa, who responded to the alarm, were the ones who rushed Potot to the hospital.

Potot sustained four fatal stab wounds on the left side of his body near the armpit.

Tagsip said Potot had a bad reputation in the neighborhood and no one spoke in his favor.

Tagsip said he remembered that Potot was also the subject of a complaint earlier this year for hurting a member of Pinote’s family.

The tanod, Tagsip said, is a former convict, who had turned a new leaf.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy wants the matter investigated. He also wants to take a closer look at how barangay tanods are recruited.

Barangay tanods, he said are not supposed to carry knives and other sharp objects except the baton locally known as “batuta.”

National Police Commission 7 regional director Bernardo Calibo, who is now pushing for programs for the boosting and improvement of the barangay tanods in relation to their police functions said there has to be a review in the appointments of barangay tanods by the local police.

He said the barangay tanods and the police are partners and therefore their selection needs to be done properly for the effective enforcement of the law.

Napolcom incidentally spearheaded the first capability enhancement seminar for barangay tanods and police officials yesterday for Cebu province.

Executive Order 546 authorized the Philippine National Police to deputize the barangay tanods as “force multipliers” nationwide in addressing threats to security and insurgency.

They have to go through stringent requirements and training before they can be deputized and only a few of them are allowed to be armed.—(/NLQ)