Tanke residents complain against RMFB personnel

Some residents in Barangay Tanke, Talisay City filed two complaints in the barangay against the members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) who were fielded in the area more than a month ago.

The RMFB were tasked to quell the worsening illegal drug problem in the village.

A resident claimed that RMFB members reportedly attempted to torch a house of a suspected drug pusher in Sitio Tunga.

Complainant Kyle Dabasol said they became anxious after seeing CCTV footage allegedly showing some operatives attacking the house of one of their neighbors.

The RMFB operatives reportedly used a candle to set the house on fire.

Dabasol suspected that some RMFB personnel are behind the fires in their village.

Two fires occurred in Tanke last August, one of which destroyed a house in Sitio Galaxy.

“Okay raman gud kung naay operation kay mao sab na among gusto. Kung dakop, dakopon gyud. Dili kay mangsunog nga kuyaw pa maamong among balay,” Dabasol said.

A 42-year-old house painter also accused three RMFB operatives of mauling him just because he was drunk.

Jonathan Sabellano claimed that the operatives took turns mauling him inside the Tanke barangay hall last Friday night until Saturday dawn.

Sabellano admitted that he was drunk when three RMFB personnel stopped him.

He was then detained after the operatives claimed he was being disrespectful.

“Ilang gihapak akong mga kamot gamit ang batuta. Ila pa gyud gisukmag akong tiyan ug kadaghan ug gihapak nila akong mga bagtak samtang galuhod ko,” he said.

But Insp. Clifton Gairanod, RMFB 7 team leader, denied the allegations against his men, saying these were meant to demean their presence in Tanke.

Tanke village chief Nelson Cabanes also defended the RMFB, saying that their presence in the village helped neutralize some illegal drug personalities.