Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Nalzaro: Guns for tanods? By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
THE accidental shooting to death of a 14-year-old boy by the barangay tanod chief of Ermita last Sunday has revived the debate on whether to allow barangay tanods and anti-crime groups to carry firearms or not.
Possessing a firearm is actually a privilege granted by the government to every citizen through the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Unit. To legally own a gun, one must apply for a license to possess and then a permit to carry the gun outside of residence.
A permit to carry is difficult to obtain because you have to justify its issuance and it costs the applicant several thousands of pesos. Also, one must undergo a psychological test and proper training in gun handling. However, those with strong connections with the PNP and the powers that be can easily get the permit.
Some barangay tanods and members of anti-crime groups like Bantay Bayan, Lubas and Guardians who are helping the police in maintaining order want to possess firearms. They argue that they are up against criminals who are armed. Thus, some of them carry guns even without legal documents.
Because the police are tolerating the practice, some tanods display these guns in public and use these in responding to alarms. They sometimes fire indiscriminately and threaten their enemies in the neighborhood. Lack of training in gun handling also leads to accidental shooting, like what happened in Ermita.
Vicente Bosque and his tanods were merely responding to a drunk person alarm at the Carbon market. But Bosque reportedly pulled a gun and fired. The drunk man was hit and so too 14-year-old Junard Anter, who was with his father driving a trisikad.
At first, Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta tried to conceal the crime. He even scolded the victim’s father who went to the barangay hall to seek assistance. He also offered to shoulder the burial expenses provided the family won’t file charges against his tanods. Eventually though, he turned over the suspect to the police the following day.
If barangay tanods are allowed to carry guns, then they should be properly trained. Even policemen who are presumed to know how to handle a gun still commit errors that lead to accidental shooting. How much more for an ordinary citizen?
