Tanods as ‘citizen soldiers’
IN several speeches by President DU-30 as guest of honor and speaker on the occasion of the ‘oath taking’ of newly elected barangay officials in various parts of the country, he hinted at the possibility of arming the barangay captains. In recent statements, he spoke of giving the smallest unit of governance a shotgun, and for tanods caliber .22, harnessing them in the fight against drugs and criminality. The plan has yet to be studied by the Cabinet, he said.
Since Malacañang, PDEA, PNP, etc., have a list of suspected barangay officials who won in the last election but remain in the drug-watch, not all barangays can expect to enjoy such privilege. The firearms are also government property under the DILG which must be accounted for and constantly inventoried when turned over to barangay officials and tanods. A protocol of gun seminars, drug-testing, plus firing, familiarization, confidence, and proficiency would be ideal. The DILG must, however, produce an administrative policy regulating the standards for incoming tanod applicants.
Part of the solution would be to enroll the entire 42,029 barangays nationwide with their 20-plus auxiliary volunteers (tanods) as “citizen soldiers” for national defense, to include disaster training, first aid, etc. The AFP’s Reserve Commands could undertake a program of training with their respective regional and community units. Funding is actually existent and long available on the local government level precisely for this purpose.
With proper administrative coordination between DND and DILG, plus the AFP-PNP tandem, such a move would create untold benefits and a great impact on many theaters of national concern. I do not need to spell out the positive gains rising from such marriage. The Cabinet members of the President are smart. With the number of barangays all over the country multiplied by at least 20 tanods, expect 840,580 warm bodies as citizen soldiers attached to the ready reserve.
PERSONAL: Happy wedding anniversary to Biliran Congressman Roger and Dr. Cecil Espina and a joint natal day celebration with Congressman Roger and Kawayan Mayor Rudy Espina. Warmest regards and prayers from your “inaanaks”!