Police warn tanods vs moonlighting as candidates' bodyguards

The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned village tanods (watchmen) against moonlighting as bodyguards of the candidates in the October 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that while the PNP needs the tanods to help secure villages, it will not tolerate watchmen engaging in partisan political activities. “Di pupuwede. Bawal yan at matitiktikan sila, mache-check sila sa ating mga checkpoints na itatayo. Sisitahin natin yan pag sa barangay ka at dumaan sila doon aalamin natin sino ang dumadaan," Cruz said in an interview on dzBB radio on Monday. (Moonlighting as a bodyguard for someone running in the election is prohibited. They will be checked and questioned at checkpoints if they are caught acting as bodyguards.) Cruz said PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo on Sunday ordered regional and provincial directors and chiefs of police to expand their checkpoint operations for the October 25 polls. This means expanding the checkpoints from main thoroughfares to village roads. “Pinagutos yan kahapon lamang, immediately ang pagkakasabi ng Chief PNP. Siguro nagsimula kagabi ang checkpoint sa barangay road (Bacalzo gave the order Sunday. I expect the expanded checkpoint operations started Sunday night)," he said. He added that while the PNP needs the help of village watchmen since it lacks personnel, the barangay tanods must be aware of their bigger responsibility now. “Being part of force multipliers sila kasama natin sa pagse-secure ng checkpoint na itatayo natin sa barangay, di sila mawawala sa circulation. Mas lalong lalaki ang kanilang papel na gagampanan (As force multipliers helping us secure villages, they will have a greater role in the Oct. 25 polls)," he said. 2,301 hotspots and counting Meanwhile, Cruz said the PNP is keeping watch over at least 2,301 areas designated as election hotspots for the October 25 elections. He said the list stemmed from meetings between the Commission on Elections and the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines. “Mula September 25, 2,300 ito. May dinagdag na isa (Since September 25, there had been 2,300 checkpoints, but we added another between Sept. 25 and now)," he said. –VVP, GMANews.TV