Tanods barred from carrying gun during quarantine duty —Eleazar

Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday said barangay  security officers are not allowed to bring guns when enforcing quarantine rules.

In a statement, the PNP said Eleazar ordered  police commanders “to make sure that no barangay tanods would be allowed to carry guns especially in the enforcement of the quarantine rules.”

He made the statement after a barangay tanod shot to death a 59-year-old curfew violator, supposedly with mental illness, in Tondo, Manila on Saturday.

Eleazar reminded all law enforcers to observe rules of engagement and other operational procedures of the PNP and give maximum tolerance to violators to prevent similar incidents.

“In the enforcement of minimum public health safety standards and ECQ rules in Metro Manila, we always remind our law enforcers to observe maximum tolerance on quarantine violators,” he said.

Eleazar vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the fatal shooting incident as he assured the family of the victim that the PNP will hold the suspect, Cesar Panlaqui, accountable for the crime.

Panlaqui was arrested on Sunday morning.

A revolver was recovered from the suspect. According to the police, the firearm is not documented and does not have a serial number.

According to Eleazar, the PNP also considering filing an additional complaint of illegal possession of firearms against the suspect.

Panlaqui is now under the custody of the Manila Police District.

Aside from the PNP, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday also said it is investigating the fatal shooting of the curfew violator.

“The Commission has repeatedly stressed throughout the ongoing pandemic that this is a health crisis, not a peace and order agenda,” CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia said.

“Employing force will not eliminate the virus, but may instead further imperil and harm lives, which the quarantine rules is supposed to protect,” she added. —LBG, GMA News