Barangay tanods lauded for role in peace keeping
The barangay tanods or village watchmen who work on a purely voluntary basis to ensure public safety in the more than 4,000 barangays in Western Visayas were given due recognition during the culmination of the National Crime Prevention Week.
Assistant Regional Director Arnel Agabe of the Department of the Interior and Local Government 6 said he wants the public to be aware of the “critical role of the Barangay Tanods as force multipliers of our law enforcement agencies, risking their lives and limbs to preserve peace and order in the locality.”
Their spirit of volunteerism and unwavering concern for the community led the DILG to conduct a yearly search for Most Outstanding Barangay Tanods, the only one of its kind in the country and now on its fifth year.
The search has two categories, and the winners are: Individual Category–Sergio Perucho of Brgy. Polo, New Washington, Aklan, champion; Warlito Pagran of Brgy. Antipolo, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, first runner-up; and Juvy Galon of Brgy. Concordia, Sibunag, Guimaras, second runner-up.
Igcocolo village of Guimbal, Iloilo was adjudged champion for the Group Category; Polo, New Washington, Aklan, first runner-up; and Ilaya, Ivisan, Capiz, second runner-up.
In citing the tanods’ role, Agabe quoted Arthur Ashe that heroism is “not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”
Also given recognition during the occasion were the “Most Citizen Friendly Police Stations” in Western Visayas.
For City Category, San Carlos Police Station was named champion; Iloilo City Police Station 2, La Paz, second; and Bacolod City Police Station 3, third.
For the Municipal Category: Ivisan Police Station, Capiz, first; Tobias Fornier Police Station, Antique, second; and Boracay Special Tourist Police Office, Aklan, third.*PIA6