Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said Tuesday that barangay tanods or guards cannot carry guns while performing quarantine duties.
According to PNP said Eleazar ordered police commanders “to make sure that no barangay tanods would be allowed to carry guns especially in the enforcement of the quarantine rules.”
The PNP made the statement after a barangay tanod shot and killed a mentally ill quarantine violator in Tondo.
“In the enforcement of minimum public health safety standards and ECQ rules in Metro Manila, we always remind our law enforcers to observe maximum tolerance on quarantine violators,” Eleazar said.
CCTV footage in Barangay 156 shows barangay tanod Cesar Panlaqui apprehending a man past 9 pm on Saturday, curfew time.
When the man approached him and seemed to be beating him with a rattan, Panlaqui suddenly backed away and then pulled out and fired a gun.
But the man also backed away and walked away. There he was followed by the barangay guard and shot him.
An investigation by the Manila Police District (MPD) revealed that the 59-year-old man was mentally ill.
Barangay tanods not allowed to carry guns during duty – Eleazar
He was wandering around during the curfew, so the guard apprehended him up, resulting in a shooting.
“Nakita natin dito sa CCTV footage ng barangay na ‘yong biktima at yung suspek natin nagkaroon ng verbal confrontation,” said Police Capt. Philipp Ines, public informaiton officer of MPD.
“Pero nalaman nga natin na itong biktima na ito ay may problema sa pag-iisip,” he added.
Panlaqui was arrested Sunday at his home. Police are still investigating whether the gun he used has the relevant documents.
The suspect has already agreed to the inquest proceeding for the murder complaint.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday also said it is investigating the death of the curfew violator.
“The Commission has repeatedly stressed throughout the ongoing pandemic that this is a health crisis, not a peace and order agenda,” CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia said.
“Employing force will not eliminate the virus, but may instead further imperil and harm lives, which the quarantine rules are supposed to protect,” she added.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.