Mayor asserts tanods must be armed

CEBU, Philippines -   Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday reiterated his proposal to arm barangay tanods following two recent incidents wherein two tanods from barangays Basak-Pardo and Camputhaw were shot while on duty.

“If security guards are allowed, why not the tanods? Security guards are not even trained,” Osmeña said, adding, however, that the proposal might be rejected because of misconceptions that tanods are “ignorant, careless, stupid and drunkards.”

 “True enough there are tanods like that but the city has the best tanods, I should say,” Osmeña said.

The mayor stressed 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.

Also yesterday, Osmeña said the city will give P100,000 to anyone who can pinpoint the location or bring forward Christopher Albo, the suspect in the shooting of Danilo Cabaluna, 56. Cabaluna was shot while going after Albo and two others who victimized three passengers of a public utility jeepney bound for Barangay Pardo dawn the other day.

Albo, who is also facing a warrant of arrest for robbery, was identified through a photograh secured from the police rogue gallery.

Osmeña said a P20,000 cash assistance has been provided to Cabaluna’s family, but the city is willing to shell out more if necessary, considering that Cabaluna’s condition is still critical.

Osmeña said yesterday he already instructed the police to produce photos of the crime scene.

Aside from Albo, police are also hunting down the suspects in the shooting of Camputhaw barangay tanod Reynaldo Quiñones who was chasing a robbery suspect last February 16. He was shot on the chest.  

“I told them to do a social profile of the family. I want to determine their status… who is the breadwinner…some other things. It’s a preparatory to providing aid for the family,” Osmeña said.

During the same day that Cabaluna was shot, the city government gave a special award to the Barangay Intelligence Network for the exemplary work of the likes of Cabaluna, who are willing to risk their lives to protect residents of the city.

Osmeña said the city is willing to add more tanods if the barangays need them.

“We have been giving continuous assistance to the barangay tanods like when we increased their allowance by P2000, we provided them patrol vehicles and radios for communications, we have never turned down any request from them as we have the best tanods here,” Osmeña said. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO      (FREEMAN NEWS)