Only fully trained cops should allowed to carry guns during lockdowns

CCTV footage of the death of a 59-year-old scavenger who was shot by a “barangay tanod.”

MANILA, Philippines — Guns should not be carried by non-police personnel during lockdowns due to their lack of training in firearms handling, a lawmaker said Tuesday.

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon made the remark in light of the death of a 59-year-old scavenger who was shot by a “barangay tanod” (village watchman) amid the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

READ: ‘Tanod’ enforcing ECQ sued for murder for shooting scavenger

“Enforcement multipliers like barangay tanods are not fully trained on proper firearms use and discipline, so in order to avoid incidents like these, carrying of firearms by non-police personnel even if licensed should not be allowed during the imposition of quarantine,” Biazon said in a statement.

“It is but proper for the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) to order the investigation of the shooting and file the appropriate charges if there are findings of any violation of law,” he added.

Regardless of how the investigation turns out, Biazon said, “it is strongly recommended to adopt and enforce a policy to take an inventory of who among those given assignments in the enforcement of pandemic control measures are licensed to own, possess, and carry firearms.”

“This will enable accountability to be immediately ascertained,” he said.

Biazon pointed out that this was not the first time such an incident happened, saying that in April 2020, Quezon City police manning a quarantine checkpoint shot to death Winston Ragos, a retired soldier with mental illness who supposedly violated community quarantine protocols.