After Shooting of Actor Council committee pushes for training of tanods

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council’s Committee on Laws, Ordinances, Public Accountability and Good Government wants all tanods in 80 barangays to undergo a series of trainings on warrantless arrest, search and seizure and safeguarding evidence, as well as preserving the crime scene.

This proposal was raised after the shooting of an actor in Pari-an last month.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, the committee chairman, included in his proposal the approval of P286,410 to be charged against the PAGCOR Funds for the conduct of the training.

The series of trainings is scheduled for February and October next year.

Apart from last month’s incident, the proposed training was also prompted by reports that tanod officials often disturb, if not destroy, evidence.

“Tanod officials throughout the country, including Cebu City, are at the forefront in effectuating peace and order in their respective communities. Unfortunately, while some tanod units have implemented a pro-active scheme in responding to alerts, there have often been reports whereby tanod officials themselves have marred evidence or disturbed, if not destroyed, pertinent aspects of the crime scene,” Labella said.

He said that the recent shooting of actor Kirk Abella, who was playing the role of a gunman in a European Movie entitled Going Somewhere, is an illustration of how badly the improvement of the training of these officials is needed.

“The scenario could have been avoided had the barangay tanod been duly oriented and apprised of his duties and obligations, considering that the crime was committed not because of any malicious purpose or ill-motive but simply for lack of sufficient knowledge and orientation on his basic responsibilities,” Labella said.

He is also wishing that a standard qualification in appointing of tanod officials be provided by the law.

The City Resource Management and Development Center (Cremdec) shall handle the training and ensure that the training will be provided by experts in the said fields.

The general objective of the training project is to raise the level of awareness and orientation of all barangay tanods in the city relative to their duties and responsibilities, and first-hand responses in conducting arrests, seizures, and searches specifically warrantless arrests, properties subject to seizure, admissibility of illegally seized evidence, conducting proper search and seizure.

Under the law, each barangay is allowed to hire at most 20 tanods to ensure peace and order in their respective areas of assignment. (THE FREEMAN)