Just give them nightsticks

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The proposal of some sectors in the Western Visayas to provide barangay tanods with arms is something that should be shot down immediately. It is a move that will probably create more peace and order problems in the countrysides than what already exist there.

Even with the restrictions on the possession or carrying of firearms, we already know of so may cases when killings or wounding of people have occurred because of the availability of such potent weapons. We even have reports of barangays officials themselves engaging in shooting incidents, especially when they are under the influence of intoxicating liquor. With all due respect to the tanods, who are tasked with the maintenance of peace and order in their puroks or barangays, few or maybe none of them have undergone training in the use of firearms. Maybe those who had gone through college, and some military training as in the former Reserved Officers Training Crops, or, lately the Civilian Army Training, and could claim some basic knowledge of the use of firepower.

It is alarming to note that, even with the strong resistance aired by local government officials, especially in Iloilo where this was proposed, the Regional Police Director counters that with the proper training and monitoring and supervision by regular policemen, the armed tanods will boost the operations of the local police.

That is quite a simplistic justification for a very serious problem. It has not been too long ago when local communities had encountered too many problems with what the military then called their auxiliaries, or Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units, or the infamous CAFGUS.

What exactly are the responsibilities of the barangay tanods? If it is mainly to protect citizens from thieves, night prowlers, local drunks or snatchers, the good old nightsticks will still do. God forbid that trigger-happy ones with some abusive tendencies get the lethal weapons, too.*