Banilad chief asks "complainant" to come out

CEBU, Philippines - Banilad, Cebu City Barangay Captain Malou Tabar is now investigating a complaint against her tanods who allegedly refused to respond in a burglary alarm that happened in one of the private subdivisions in their barangay.

In an anonymous letter sent to The Freeman, the complainant alleged that he sought the assistance of the barangay several times to report a burglary but the tanods would always reject the request by saying there’s nothing they can do unless the culprits are unidentified.

The letter claimed that this village has been victimized by several break-ins the past few months.

“They (tanods) said that even if they respond to my call, by the time they get to the area, the culprits are already gone,” the letter reads. “So I asked them to do a stake out or some area patrols. They just told me that they cannot do that! They told me that the village security should be the one to do the stake out and patrol the area.”

But Tabar said that her tanods are doing their rounds every night, in no particular time schedule. She added that the tanods are supposed to patrol even the private subdivisions.

She advised the complainant to send her a copy of the letter, which must include the specific date and time that he was refused assistance so she can determine who was on duty at that time.

“But I think it is also unfair on the part of my tanods because according to the law, we are only allowed to have 20 tanods. And Banilad is home to 13 sitios and five big villages. Our tanods have daily and nightly duties, 24 hours a day, 30 days a month in a big area such as our barangay,” she said.

Tabar said that tanods could not really make arrests if the complainant will not be able to identify the perpetrator.

The writer also had a complaint against the barangay captain: “I tried reaching the barangay captain, but she does not pick up her phone and has not replied to my messages. I was told she only comes on rare occasions.”

But Tabar denied that she received any call or text message from a complainant. She added that she always calls back all unanswered calls.

“My phone is open 24 hours because I know that I am a barangay captain. And I admit that for the past two weeks, I am not always in my office because my mom was hospitalized so I have to look after her and my baby,” Tabar said.

The barangay captain assured that she has instructed all her tanods to act as professionals and to be always responsive to the needs of the people.

She said she will discuss this case with the barangay’s committee on peace and order during their regular session.

She advised the complainant to come out and lodge a formal complaint at the barangay hall. (THE FREEMAN)