ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – The city government of Zamboanga City has partnered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to equip barangay tanods or community watchmen with knowledge and skills needed to help law enforcement authorities keep the peace in their respective areas.

Mayor John Dalipe emphasized that the training aims to ensure that the force multipliers are capable of taking on the roles of peacekeepers and first responders.

“Barangay tanods, also known as barangay police officers, are the first responders as they perform a variety of police functions,” he said.

The participants were divided into five batches, with each batch attending two days of lectures from January 22 to February 6. Resource speakers from the DILG, Commission on Human Rights, and the Zamboanga City Police Office covered four modules, encompassing the profile of a barangay tanod, addressing gender-sensitive and child-friendly aspects, cultivating cultural sensitivity in barangay tanods, practical, hands-on self-defense sessions, and providing insights into their role as first responders and operational procedures.  

Barangay tanods, or community watchmen, are integral components of Zamboanga City’s security infrastructure. Empowered by local ordinances and working in close collaboration with law enforcement agencies, these dedicated individuals serve as the eyes and ears of their respective barangays. Trained in basic security protocols and equipped with knowledge of their communities, barangay tanods play a proactive role in crime prevention, disaster response, and conflict resolution.

As Zamboanga City continues to evolve and maintain a sense of peace, with no imminent threats from lawless groups, despite an increase in crime incidents and other peace and order indicators in the first three weeks of this year, according to city police spokesperson Col. Paul Andrew Cortes. The collaboration between barangay tanods, local authorities, and residents will remain paramount in safeguarding its future prosperity and well-being. (KSA/APG/RVC/EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)