Tanod dies as PUM, did not get city’s aid

CEBU, Philippines —  A barangay tanod from San Nicolas Proper, Cebu City, tagged as a person under monitoring (PUM), has died serving at the frontline even without getting his honorarium for about half a year from the city government.

San Nicolas Proper Barangay Captain Clifford Jude Niñal said Antonio Molina died of heart attack last Thursday, but had to be buried the following day after being tagged as a PUM.

Niñal and the rest of Molina’s fellow village watchmen mourned for the 59-year-old tanod’s death, but what the former felt so bad about is the fact that Molina has dedicated his life serving the barangay under Cebu City with only a meager allowance from their barangay.

The barangay is giving the tanods and members of the Lupon P1,500 each per month, while the Cebu City Government gives P4,000 as its counterpart of their honorarium.

The FREEMAN learned earlier from San Nicolas Proper’s chief tanod Ariel Salamida that the barangay’s assigned Mayor’s Information and Liaison Officer allegedly caused the delay of their honorarium.

Problems with endorsements from assigned MILOs were already relayed to Mayor Edgardo Labella, but City Hall reportedly has not taken any action yet on the request, as of press time.

Niñal has already sought for the DILG’s intervention, but he still has yet to receive an update on this also.

He said Molina, just like the other tanods, has been serving the barangay and its residents, making sure quarantine protocols have been followed until last month when he had fallen ill.

“Kung gihatag pa unta sa city government ang honorarium nila, makapalit unta nig tambal dayon ug pang vitamins ug unsa pa na diha pang maintenance si Tonyo, basin wa unta to atakiha. Subo kaayo pamalungdungon. Hago kaayo sila, pero wa gyuy honorarium gihapon tawon, agwanta ra silag unsay mahatag sa barangay,” said Niñal.

He was told that the reason the tanods and members of the lupon have not been given their honorarium is MILO’s failure to submit the requirements.

“Ingon sila, mao daw wapa ni nasweldohi ang mga tanod ug taga-Lupon kay wapa ka-submit sa requirements.  Unsaon man pag-submit nga di man lagi dawaton kung walay endorsement sa MILO, unya ang MILO di mopirma,” said Niñal.

The village chief hopes that no other tanod in his barangay or from any other barangay would suffer the same fate as Molina.

“Simbako lang intawn, wala na untay laing tanod nga mamatay tungod sa sakit dala na siguro sa kaguol nga nga wala pa gyud sila sweldohi intawn,” said Niñal. — GAN (FREEMAN)