Tom: No allowance for tanods

CEBU, Philippines - After failing to clear sidewalks from the presence of illegal vendors, the barangay tanods assigned in Mambaling and Sambag 2 will no longer get their monthly allowance from the Cebu City government.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña suspended the granting of allowances to the tanods starting this month until after their performance had been evaluated.

“The assistance to tanods in Sambag 2 is cancelled because they did not clear B. Rodriguez from vendors. I gave them one week. They think I’m bluffing? So, cancelled,” he said in a press conference yesterday.

“The allowance of tanods in Mambaling is also cancelled because they are not doing anything. Period,” he added.

The city government is giving P5,000 allowance to each 1,600 barangay tanods all over the city. Each of the 80 barangays has at least 20 tanods.

Osmeña said this should serve as a warning to all barangay tanods.

It was not the first time Osmeña suspended the monthly allowance of tanods. The mayor earlier suspended the release of allowances to the tanods last February for allegedly not performing their duties. The allowances were reinstated last June.

Moreover, the mayor also made a stern warning to all tanods to perform their duties, especially in the fight against illegal drugs.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday threatened to suspend mayors who cannot curb narcotics within their jurisdiction and to probe the Commission on Human Rights for allegedly conspiring with drug offenders.

Duterte said mayors who cannot suppress illicit drugs in their towns or cities do not deserve to have control over the local police.

Osmeña welcomed the pronouncement of Duterte, but said he needs the support of everyone especially the barangay tanods.

“I don’t mind paying as long as they earn it. Dili na madala if they just want to demand and insist mura man og they are entitled to it, no way,” he said.

In fact, the mayor said he is willing to double the tanods’ monthly allowance if they will do a “super good job.” He said he will monitor their performance through their weekly reports.

In a separate development, Osmeña said the city will terminate the services of all barangay workers and City Hall employees who will be tested positive of illegal drug use.

The mayor said he will not allow those who have undergone rehabilitation to go back to work as it would only encourage users to go through rehab just to be reinstated into the position. 

“The moment you found guilty, you’re terminated,” Osmeña said.

Sought for comment, Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention Chief Garry Lao said he will relay the information to the barangays.

Since February this year, at least 134 barangay workers from 12 villages were tested positive of using illegal drugs during a series of surprise screenings.

Lao said there were also 16 out of 658 City Hall employees who were found positive of illegal drug use from June to August this year. (FREEMAN)