Arrest barangay tanods armed with guns, Bato orders police

Published: 11:43 a.m., Jan. 2, 2018 | Updated: 8:01 p.m., Jan. 2, 2018

Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered all chiefs of police to arrest barangay tanods (village watchmen) armed with guns following the deadly shooting incident in Mandaluyong City last Dec. 28.

“Right now, I’m giving instructions to all chiefs of police na hulihin lahat ng tanod na armado. Magalit na kung magalit ‘yung mga mayor na bosing nila, wala akong pakialam,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame on Tuesday.

PNP chief Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa during the press briefing on “Paskuhan” and other matters on January 2, 2018 at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City. Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

Only tanods with permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) would be spared from arrest, said the police chief.

“Pero kung may baril sila dahil ini-invoke nila na barangay tanod sila, no. That’s illegal,” he said.

Last Dec. 28, some village watchmen in Mandaluyong figured wiht some police officers in a shooting incident in which two persons were killed and two others were injured.

Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita Abalos had earlier issued a memorandum directing Kent Familial, chairman of Barangay Addition Hills where the incident happened, to explain within 24 hours why the watchmen were armed with guns.

The four Mandaluyong cops in the shooting, two village watchmen and Jonalyn Amba-an, one of the two fatalities, tested positive for gunpowder nitrates.

Village watchmen Ernesto Fajardo and William Duron, however, denied they were carrying guns during the encounter.

Although the PNP was thankful for the help of village guards in maintaining peace and order, Dela Rosa said the police would not tolerate tanods illegally possessing firearms.

“Let me set the record straight, the PNP is happy na may tanod na nakakatulong sa ating maintenance of peace and order pero kung sila nagiging source of problem or namamaril. Well, hindi natin totolerate ‘yan because in the first place illegal pag-possess ng firearms,” he said.

/cbb /atm