Arm the tanods, too – Barba
AFTER THE KAPITANS
If the provincial board is no longer inclined to arm other barangay officials, the barangay kagawads (councilors) and tanods (security) may have found an avid supporter in the province’s police director.
P/Sr. Supt. Percival Barba, the new police provincial director who attributes the low crime index in Pangasinan to the recent distribution of shotguns to barangay kapitans, is set to recommend that barangay tanods be armed as well.
He said a big decline in crime volume in the province has been noted, from a monthly average of 200, it has gone down to 150.
He said he doesn’t see any problem about the issuance of the shotguns to the barangay chairmen.
If only funds would be made available, Barba said he would ask for the purchase of more firearms and ask that these be issued primarily to the tanods.
The provincial government spent P30 million for the shotguns- for- barangay chairmen program.
He pointed out that so far only one or two so far out of the more than 1,300 barangay captains are the subjects of complaints for alleged misuse of the firearms.
“Very nil. Almost negligible,” he said but clarified that no one would be spared if allegations of abuse and misuse are proven to be true.
“Sana’y tingnan naman natin yong advantage,” he told newsmen during Pangasinan Tri-Media’s Meet The Press.
He said he is happy to attribute the decline of crime volume to the governor’s shotgun program and added that that the purchase of the firearms went through the legal process.
“If you were to ask me, hanggang tanod sana mabigyan pero wala ng pondo,” he said.
He said what he fears is an armed person who is not disciplined inferring that barangay officials, particularly tanods are a disciplined lot.—#
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