Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Chief Usec. Eduardo M. Año called on all the barangay captains nationwide to ensure that all their barangay watchmen/tanods are not carrying firearms even if their main reason is for the sake of duty.
Año reminded the barangay watchmen, including the communitry brigade composed of civilian volunteers and those who were appointed by their respective barangay captains, through the recommendation of Barangay Peace and Order Council, that they are not allowed to carry firearms.
According to Año, all the watchmen are only allowed to carry ‘nightstick,’ whistle and flashlight.
It can be remembered that Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered a crackdown against gun-wielding barangay security officers, who have been carrying firearms in the conduct of village patrol – following the controversial Mandaluyong City incident that happened on December 28, 2017.
“First of all, these tanod.., they are not authorized to carry guns so right now I am giving instruction to all members of the PNP: Arrest all the armed barangay tanod,” the PNP chief said.
“They cannot invoke that they have the right to carry firearms because they are tanod. That is illegal. What they are lawfully allowed to bear are sticks,” he added. (Tretch Melarpes, with reports from Eunice Samonte – PTV News)
