Village officials required to cooperate with police

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay officials who refuse to cooperate with the police in raids or other operations could be cited for dereliction of duty, Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president and barangay Subangdaku captain Ernie Manatad said.

Manatad was reacting to Centro Police chief P/C/Insp. Elmer Fernandez's allegations that a few barangay officials in some instances refuse to sign the inventory of evidence or stand as witnesses to raids.

Manatad said it is the sworn duty of barangay officials to sign the inventory of evidence.

"If cops require their presence during operations, then they are obliged to do so," Manatad said.

But he considers barangay officials' refusal to cooperate valid for many reasons.

Barangay officials claim some law enforcers keep them in the dark about a planned operation and would only learn about it when their signatures are sought, but law enforcers say withholding information is resorted to at times in order, for instance, to prevent law breakers from being tipped off, he said.

Every so often barangay officials recoil from signing inventories for fear that the evidence presented to them could be "planted," Manatad said.

"Usahay pud busa hesitant na mopirma ang barangay official kay tawgon na lang nga nakalatag na ang mga ebidensya unya wa mi'y kalibutan nga naa diay raid gipahigayun," Manatad said.

However, Manatad said it is not necessary for the police to inform officials days before a raid is to be conducted but an hour or so would suffice.

To clarify things, Manatad will invite MCPO director Noel Gillamac to attend the next ABC meeting.

Aside from the signatures of the barangay officials, the court requires law enforcers to have their inventory of evidence signed by media practitioners and a representative from the Department of Health. — THE FREEMAN