Tanods included in Duterte's plan to arm barangay officials

By Jigger Jerusalem, Julie Alipala 

A day after he was cheered by barangay captains in Cagayan de Oro when he brought up the idea of giving them handguns, President Duterte told a gathering here that he was consulting with Cabinet officials to arm the 1,049  newly elected barangay officials and their respective tanods here.

But Duterte said he would not issue high powered firearms, but only shotguns for village officials and caliber 22 or Beretta for barangay tanods, preferably those who had undergone training in ROTC; and retired military and police officials.
“Pag aralan muna namin sa (We are still studying it with the) cabinet.  I will consult (the cabinet) halos mga military man sila tanan (Most of them are military men. My proposal) is, no heavy firearm, just shotgun,” Duterte said.

He said he was aware that barangay officials were hesitant to confront criminals.  “I know you are afraid because you have no weapon, now that I give you weapon, you can fight,” Duterte said.
Don’t underestimate the power of a shotgun, he said. “Will you live if you’re hit by a shotgun? Just look at those who were hit.”
For barangay tanods or village security forces, Duterte said Beretta or caliber 22 would be enough to fight criminality.
“I am telling you as a trial lawyer handling homicide cases, once your liver or bladder or pancreas get hit by a 22, you only have 30 minutes to live, that’s true,” Duterte said. The more bullets hitting the body, the deadlier, he added.
In Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, Duterte was greeted by cheers when he asked a gathering of barangay captains if they wanted a handgun.
“I don’t know if the police and the military will agree, gusto ninyo ng handgun (do you want a handgun)?” the President asked to the loud clapping and cheering from barangay captains.  “Gusto jud mopatay ning mga buang (They really want to kill),” the President said, which was met by an even louder shouting.  “If you carry these things, be sure that you are doing it legally. I will conduct seminars,” he said.  “.22 (caliber pistols) will do, you don’t need a powerful firearm, because an M14 is too dangerous, once it fires, many people might get hit.”

(Reposted from Inquirer.net. Original Title: Duterte eyes arming barangay captains  Photo credit: Presidential Communications Operations Office.

Outgoing Iloilo barangay officials turn over barangay assets

 

TURNOVER OF DOCUMENTS. Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III (left) and members of the Iloilo City Audit Transition Team  witness the signing of the turnover of documents from outgoing to incoming barangay officials of Jaro district on Tuesday (June 26, 2018). (Photo by Perla Lena) 

By Perla Lena

The turnover of Barangay Properties, Financial Records and Documents  from outgoing to incoming barangay officials in this city started on Tuesday.

Spearheaded by the Iloilo City Audit Transition Team (ICATT), the turnover is in compliance with Circular No. 2018-12 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Initially, 28 of the 42 barangays in Jaro district have complied with the submission of documents. The turnover to cover the remaining barangays from the city’s six other districts will be until Friday at the Diamond Jubilee Hall.

“Out of 180 barangays, almost half of which have passed their documents already and are scheduled for ceremonial turn over. That is why, we are calling all barangays officials to submit your documents at the City Accountant’s Office for checking and finalization,” said Iloilo City Accountant IV Margaret Malban.

Circular No. 2018-12 mandated the creation of an inventory team as early as February this year.
It was issued to ensure the systematic transition from the outgoing barangay officials to the incoming newly elected or re-elected barangay officials who will assume their office on June 30.

Also, it aimed to sustain transparent and accountable local governance at the barangay level and make sure that all concerned barangay officials exercise due diligence as regards to proper use, care, utilization and safekeeping of all government properties, barangay funds, financial records and documents.

Iloilo City DILG Director Atty. Ferdinand Panes warned that barangay officials who could not submit their documents will not be issued clearances and will be facing sanctions.

The documents submitted by the outgoing barangay officials will be submitted to City DILG to be forwarded to the department’s central office to monitor the compliance of outgoing barangay officials, said Panes.

The Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit are also furnished copies.
“The documents are being monitored strictly by no less than our Secretary, and our Undersecretary Martin Diño. The memorandum circular provides penal sanctions that is why these outgoing barangay officials cannot go away with liability, either they will go to jail or held liable civilly,” said Panes.

ICATT is headed by City Accountant’s Office and is composed of DILG-Iloilo City, Liga ng mga Barangay, representatives from City Internal Audit and Services Office, City Budget Office, City General Services Office, City Planning and Development Office, and Barangay Secretariat.

(Reposted from Philippine News Agency. Original title: Turnover of documents for incoming barangay officials starts)

Laguna barangay leaders partners in progress - Gov Hernandez

Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez recently led the oath-taking of Nagcarlan’s 416 new barangay officials.
The Laguna politiko was joined by Nagcarlan Mayor Nelson Osuna during the event.
 
Hernandez reminded the barangay officials that they are partners of the government in providing solutions to the community.


He also said barangays serve as the frontliners in providing services to the public.


“Ang mga opisyal ng barangay ang katuwang natin sa pagtupad ng programa kasama na rin dito ang pagresolba ng mga isyu sa pamayanan. Katuwang din natin sila sa kaunlaran dahil kahit na ito ang pinakamaliit na yunit ay dito naman natutupad at naibibigay ang mga programang nagmumula sa pamahalaan,” (barangay officials are our partners in implementing programs which includes resolving issues in the communities.  They also help us in development because it is in the barangays where the programs of the government are being delivered and realized) Hernandez said.

 (Reposted from Politiko South Luzon. Original title: Gov. Hernandez leads oath-taking of 416 barangay officials in Nagcarlan  Photo credit: Facebook.com/GovRamil ) 

Digong to barangay captains: protect your constituents from "tambays"

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech in front of around 2,000 newly-elected barangay chairpersons in Northern Mindanao region after they took their oath before the President during a ceremony held at the Atrium Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City on June 25, 2018. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, June 25, urged the country’s village chiefs to join the administration in its campaign to eliminate street crimes and maintain peace and order.


The Chief Executive made the appeal during the mass oath-taking of newly-elected barangay officials of Region X held at The Atrium at Limketkai Center here.

Speaking to the new barangay leaders, President Duterte said they should protect the welfare of their constituents in fulfillment of their duty specifically from the dangers posed by “tambays” or street loiterers.

Citing a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, the President said Filipino families have become victims of street crimes including theft and robbery, carnapping, sexual harassment, and physical violence, among others.

“Fear of burglary, fear of unsafe streets and presence of drug addicts, ‘yan talaga ang takot ng mga tao dito,” he said.

He noted that as village chiefs, it is their duty to protect the welfare of the public saying that the local government is mandated to enforce existing national laws.

“Kayong mga barangay captains, do what is your duty. You are more than just a policeman because you are mayors. You are the governor and the president of your barangay,” Duterte said.

“You have to protect the people, kayong mga barangay captains, and you must see to it that the nation is preserved,” he added.

The President, however, warned that if records still show high crime rates and drug-related incidents in their respective barangays, the chieftains would be charged with neglect of duty.

“And the next time is gross neglect and I will simply, upon the recommendation — upon investigation, recommendation of General Año, if he says that you should go, I will dismiss you,” said Duterte.

Duterte, meanwhile, vowed to protect local chief executives as long as they fulfill their mandate to the public, assuring them of their safety and his full support.

Frisking of loiterers
In the same speech, President Duterte said his order was to have loiterers frisked and not arrested, explaining that minors caught loitering would be merely taken under the custody of the social welfare department for their protection and not for arrest.

Duterte stressed that under the law, the frisking of loiterers and taking into custody of minors are legal unless the Supreme Court declares otherwise.

He added that invoking police power of the state to establish order and safety is not subject to legislation.

“We call them istambay. That’s the word. That is my order. And you continue to frisk people who are there doon sa dalan (streets) and that is legal. Until such time, that is my order,” he said.

“The President can order, the mayor can order, the barangay can order — can issue regulations to protect public health, public safety, public order, and to protect the general welfare of the people,” he added.

(Reposted from Presidential Communications Operations office News Release. Original title: President Duterte enjoins new barangay execs to support his campaign to suppress crimes)
 

Bacolod barangay officials urged to help in city development

By Nanette Guadalquiver

Top officials of this city vowed to work closely with the new set of barangay officials to propel Bacolod towards further development.

This was the commitment of Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran to the officials of the city’s 61 barangays, who were inducted into office by Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino in a ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center here on Saturday afternoon.

Gasataya urged them to partner with the city's officials to uphold better governance and bring more progress for Bacolod.

“Let’s focus on the direction you committed to your respective barangays. That commitment is to serve the welfare of your constituents. Let’s set aside politics,” Gasataya said. “We are willing to work hand in hand with your barangays for Bacolod City’s sake.”

Gasataya said village officials are blessed with elective positions that a lot could only aspire for.
“We are hoping that after you assume office on June 30, we will have better governance not just in the national government, in the city, but also in your barangays,” the lawmaker added.

Leonardia said Bacolod could only achieve an inclusive growth when the city government has the support and participation of barangay officials.

“We have a City Development Council and we will have many other venues in the future where we can sit together. When we do the final plans for Bacolod, we promise we will seek your suggestions, we will seek your advice, we will seek your guidance,” the mayor said.

“We can make Bacolod’s growth and prosperity complete only if we can have the participation and leadership of our barangay officials. That is what I’m appealing to you,” he further said.

Familiaran said there was “nothing personal, no political commitments” in the city government’s efforts to bring all the barangay officials in one venue to take their oath of office.

“This is one way of showing them that we are willing to work, cooperate and unite with them for the good of the city,” the vice mayor said.

Ma. Joy Meredith Madayag, director of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod, urged the barangay officials to renew their vows to serve their constituents with commitment, sincerity and fidelity.

“We in the DILG will continue to exercise our mandate of general supervision over all our punong barangays and other barangay officials. We will continue to see to it that you will perform your duties, powers and functions within the bounds of law,” Madayag added.

(Reposted from Philippine News Agency website.  Original title:  Bacolod execs vow to closely work with barangay officials