Tommy O's proposal to arm tanods backed

CEBU, Philippines - The proposal of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to arm barangay tanods has the support of Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr.

While he is convinced that there is a need to provide firearms to tanods, Alcover said professionalizing them first and providing them basic salaries instead of honorarium are also necessary.

The partylist congressman explained that once the barangay tanods have undergone proper training and paid enough salaries, they can perform better and can serve as augmentation of the policemen in the city.

If there are 20 tanods in every barangay in Cebu City, he said there could be as many as 1,600 of them in all 80 barangays of the city and they are enough to augment the Cebu City Police Office.

However, Alcover observed that many of these tanods do not perform their jobs well because as their work is only voluntary and are just receiving honorarium of P300 to P800 per month from the barangay.

Likewise, he added that some of them are just working only during nighttime because at daytime, they are busy working and looking for money to sustain their families.

“Unsa pa man ang mahimo sa usa ka tanod kon magtrabaho siya panahon sa adlaw unya mo-duty pagka tanod panahon sa gabii?” said Alcover.

He said that for these barangay tanods to provide better service, there is a need for them to undergo trainings and seminars.

“Dili lang kay hatagan nimo ug armas dayon magdawatan lang og honorarium nga P300, dili gayud kita makapaabot og maayong serbisyo gikan nila,” Alcover added.

Aside from prevention of crimes and maintaining peace and order, he recognized that barangay tanods can also be utilized in the fight against insurgency.

Earlier, Osmeña said that it would benefit both the tanods and the public if the tanods are allowed to carry firearms for as long as they pass the proficiency test.

The mayor said security guards are allowed to carry firearms even if they are not properly trained. Because of this, he believes that it’s proper time now to arm barangay tanods.

He made the proposal after two barangay tanods were shot by suspected criminals in two separate incidents in the city just in the month of February. — Jose P. Sollano/WAB (THE FREEMAN)