CH EYES CUT IN TANODS’ ALLOWANCE

Osmeña requires 2,000 tanods to submit weekly report on how many drug pushers they have arrested in their villages.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña warned that he may cut again the barangay tanods’ P4,000 monthly cash allowance from the City Government, unless they can submit a weekly report on the peace and order situation in their areas.

In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said the continued proliferation of illegal activities in the barangays shows the inefficiency of the tanods.

“I have no qualms with paying as long as you earn it, not that you’re entitled to it. They should make a weekly report on how many drug pushers they’ve arrested,” he said.

Should the mayor make good his word, it will be the second time that City Hall will cut the allowances of close to 2,000 tanods in the city.

The City stopped giving allowances to tanods last February but decided to restore it three months later.

Osmeña, though, lamented that many of the tanods are not performing their duties, and that this may be linked to the October barangay elections.

“The drug network has votes that’s why maybe the barangay officials don’t like to operate against them,” he said.

Sought for comment, Association of Barangay Councils President Philip Zafra said he supports the move of the mayor.

Zafra said he hopes that the City will cooperate with the villages so that the tanods can efficiently do their part in the enforcement of laws.

“The tanods are familiar with their turf, thus, they are in a better position to complement our law enforcement agencies in the fight against criminality,” he said. /