THE City Government has set a criteria in selecting barangay tanods (village watchmen) in a bid to strengthen community-based programs and citizens' involvement in maintaining peace and order in the barangay level.
The criteria, set by the City Barangay Tanod Development Committee (BTDC), is crafted to put into action the national government's capacities and to be able to professionalize barangay tanods, a memorandum of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Cagayan de Oro said.
"We have set a standard kay dili ta gusto naa kitay tanod nga dili gihapon maka-serve sa purpose. We made sure that their age is 21-45 para sure ta na makadagan pa sila, we also need high school level tanods kay naa man kitay mga trainings, and good moral conduct that's very important also," said DILG City Director Jane Docallos.
The punong barangay shall select or appoint the barangay tanod members, but a screening committee created by the City BTDC will screen and evaluate the prospects based on the standards set to ensure that the selected tanods are competent.
A tanod should be Filipino citizen, must be a barangay resident for at least six months, a registered voter, at least 21 years but not more than 46 years old, and must have at least accomplished high school level.
A tanod should possess good moral character with no pending case at Lupang Tagapamayapa, and if a retired law enforcer, must be honorably discharged from service. If he/she is a government employee, a qualified barangay tanod must have no criminal or administrative case against him or her.
The City DILG said, the educational attainment criteria might be reconsidered especially for applicants in hinterland or low population villages.
An appointed barangay tanod member can only be removed if he or she has violated the law, committed crime and gross neglect of duty, and if the tanod has resigned.
Only the BDTC can recommend a replacement for the tanod that has resigned.
The memorandum is signed by Docallos and Cagayan de Oro City Police Office city director Senior Superintendent Nelson Aganon.
The City Council has earlier passed an ordinance creating the BDTC to strengthen the interplay between village officials and police in their effort to stop proliferation of crimes and illegal drugs in the city villages.
City Mayor Oscar Moreno called the ordinance a milestone, noting that this is the first time since all barangays will be working together towards a common goal.
