Malabon cops in anti-crime partnership with ‘tanods’

The Malabon City police formalized last week its partnership with barangay watchmen by creating the barangay peacekeeping action team aimed to enhance its crime-fighting capability.

Superintendent Moises Guevarra, the city police chief, said the project, with full support from Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales, is also intended to bring the police closer to the residents.

Guevarra said that under the barangay peacekeeping program, the 21 barangays in Malabon would be given a select police officer who would serve as supervisor of the tanods.

"The police officer is tasked to monitor in 24-hour basis the peace and order situation of his barangay and he is answerable to it," Guevarra told The STAR.

The police officer, Guevarra said, must work closely with the barangay tanods for him to maintain a peaceful surroundings.

The supervisor-cop would also be provided with his own "table" within the barangay hall where he could conduct his business.

Guevarra said that the tanods are "very effective partners" in the police anti-crime campaign for they know better the people and their activities within their respective localities.

Last Thursday, Enrique Nepomuceno, 33, Malabon’s most wanted criminal, also tagged as the leader of a notorious robbery gang, was arrested by the police after tanods informed the cops of the suspect’s presence in their area.

Malabon has only 239 police force as against the 380,000 population or a ratio of one cop for every 1,700 residents.

The ideal ratio is one policeman for every 500 residents.

"A tie-up with barangay watchmen would be a big boost to our police force and at the same time the tanods would also be inspired to work with the presence of the police," Guevarra said.

A brainchild of National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Vidal Querol, the project was proven effective in Region III during Querol’s term as regional director of the area, Guevarra said. –Pete Laude