Tanods caught ‘drinking’ while manning control point probed

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Police Office chief Colonel Josefino Ligan has ordered an investigation involving a group of barangay tanods who were photographed in an alleged drinking session while manning a quarantine control point.

“I just contacted the chief of police, Captain Dela Cerna, in relation to that report nga naa lagi daw mga barangay tanods nga nag-man sa BCP nga nakuhaan og picture nga nagtagay, so I will direct my chief of police in Station 10 to coordinate with the barangay officials,” Ligan told reporters yesterday.

The photo made rounds on social media. According to reports, the barangay tanods concerned were manning a control point in Barangay Tisa.

“Naunsa naman ni? Mga 11:30 pasado sa gabie nangagi mi sa tent dapit... Nakit-an namo naa mga tanod nag-inom sulod sa tent. Pwede diay na sa atong barangay? Nangutana mi sa mga tawo kilid barangay nagtambay, ingon sila mga tanod jud diay to tapuka," the post read.

The post further read that the residents around the area had observed that the tanods were laughing out loud. Some of them were allegedly already drunk.

According to Ligan, the coordination with the barangay officials aims to determine the identities of those who were captured. This will then be the basis for imposing corresponding sanctions against them.

“Para mahatagan pud og leksyon, barangay control point unya nag-inom hinuon?” said Ligan.

Benefit of doubt

Ligan, however, added that he will be giving them the benefit of the doubt and will verify first if the group was indeed drinking alcohol. If so, Ligan said he will recommend for the relief of such tanods from their posts.

Meanwhile, Tisa Barangay Captain Renato Pacaña said he has already talked with the barangay tanods, who denied the allegations in the post.

"Twice na namo na-interview ning mga tanod. They actually admitted na wala gyud sila mag-inom. I don't know, katong usa ka picture nga nakita ang barangay tanod nga nagdala og basiyo sa (ilimnon) kay gisugo to sa iyang asawa, which is among tan-aw, sayop pud to kay dili pud pwede nganong nipalit,” said Pacaña.

Pacaña said their fact-finding committee is already investigating the matter.  The involved barangay tanod was already made to submit a notarized explanation to dispel the allegations.

As for the possible sanctions, Pacaña said they are yet to decide and wait for the result of the investigation.

"Well, if ma-proven nga gainom gyud ni sila, walay problema, either tangtangon, i-terminate or i-suspend… ug kato pud grupoha gikan to sila giinvite og birthday, humana nato sila og inom ngadto, so pag abot nila ngari (BCP) dili na to nila duty, galingkod ra to sila,” said Pacaña.

Pacaña further assured the residents of Tisa that they are taking steps to properly validate the incident to also impose proper sanctions if need be. — JMD (FREEMAN)