Barangay Tanke burdened by stay of special police force

Since the deployment of police officers in the barangay to fight illegal drugs, barangay’s electric bills have more than doubled

Barangay officials of Tanke, Talisay City are asking for additional funds from the Police Regional Office 7 and from the City to help pay off their expenses for 45 police personnel staying in their village hall.

Barangay Tanke Captain Nelson Cabanes told Sunstar Cebu that since the Regional Mobile Force Batallion (RMFB) personnel started staying in their barangay hall last month, their electrical bill has doubled.

The RMFB personnel led by

Insp. Clifton Gairanod are currently billeted at the second floor of the barangay hall since Aug. 3.

Melinda Surigao, Barangay Tanke treasurer, said that their usual monthly electricity bill of P5,000 has increased to P11,000.

Surigao said they were forced to pass a supplemental budget worth P30,000 to pay the bill.

Surigao said that although they still have a surplus budget of P830,000, they still need assistance, as their available funds are used for their other programs, including the maintenance of their two outposts and their detention cell situated at the barangay hall.

Cabanes said he and his coun- cil members also assisted the 45 police officers by donating a part of their salary to provide food and other supplies for them.

Cabanes said he is in touch with the Talisay City Government on how to provide additional aid to the officers.

Cabanes also urged Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 officials to assist them.

PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas said he will talk with Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas to help pay the electrical bill of Tanke.

“We will solve the problem,” Sinas said.

Sinas said he only knew about the problem yesterday. He promised that PRO 7 would act on it.

The 45 RMFB personnel were deployed to Barangay Tanke last month to address the coastal village’s illegal drug problem.

Since they started operating in Tanke, the RMFB personnel have arrested more than 200 suspected drug pushers.

PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas said he will talk to Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas to help pay the electrical bill of Tanke.