CEBU CITY — Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director, Senior Supt. Royina Garma, on Friday warned barangay tanods (village watchmen) not to carry firearms to avoid imprisonment.
Garma, who oversaw the deployment of CCPO personnel at the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) office in Cebu City, said she will not hesitate to arrest any barangay tanod caught carrying a firearm, whether on duty or not.
She issued the warning following reports that many village watchmen in the city have been seen carrying handguns, even when they are not on duty.
Garma said she would not allow this practice, as tanods, even if they are serving as police auxiliary forces, are not authorized by law to carry firearms unless they have permits from the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED).
“The tanods should first get permits from the FED before they can be allowed to carry (firearms),” she said. “They should pass the test and screening.”
“Anong pagkakaiba nila sa police kung magdadala sila ng armas? Batuta lang dapat ang dala nila (How will they differ from the police if they carry firearms? They can only carry truncheons),” she pointed out. (Luel Galarpe/PNA)
