Roxas not in favor of arming village watchmen

CLARK FREEPORT — Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said he is not in favor of arming village watchmen or tanods in maintaining peace and order in the barangay, adding that the proposal might bring more problems and solve criminality.

“One would need specialized training to be able to carry side arms.  It would bring more problems that solve most,” Roxas said, adding that tanods and barangay officials should instead coordinate with the local police in implementing peace and order programs.

Roxas said he sees the hiring of more police personnel as a solution for more police visibility and in implementing peace and order programs. 

Roxas said all 145,000 policemen nationwide will be having their own side arms purchased by the National Government. 

Roxas said that he would ask President Aquino to increase the number of police recruits, saying “the 3,000 annual limit is inadequate to make police visibility effective as crime deterrent.”