MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief
OZAMIZ CITY--The use of the local calamity fund appropriation for honorarium of the barangay tanod and police auxiliary training subsidy is within the bounds of the law, Councilman Matronillo “Loloy” Cartajenas said last week.
Cartajenas’ explanation corrected the much-ballyhooed slip by city councilors some observers have tried to tell this paper that the City Government’s use of the local Calamity Fund on Police Auxiliary Unit (PAU) honorarium may be an irregularity.
Under the provisions of the law, the local Calamity Fund is used only for aid, relief and rehabilitation services to communities or areas affected by man-made and natural calamities, repair and reconstruction of permanent structures, including other capital expenditures for disaster operation, and rehabilitation activities.
The finance committee chair, who provided this paper with documents which itemized and described the purpose of the questioned funds, said that the appropriation of the Calamity Fund was based on the joint memorandum circular of the budget and management department and DILG.
The said memorandum contained clarifications on the utilization and validity of annual lump appropriations by local government units for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other works or services in connection with calamities.
Cartajenas pointed out that the allocation of the 5% Calamity Fund was pursuant to the said memo, under the section wherein the preparation of relocation sites, facilities, disaster preparedness training and other pre-disaster activities is prescribed.
To recall, it was in September 2008, exactly a month after the bloody siege in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte that the Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog organized ad trained some 225 barangay tanods for the PAU.
The move was for the suppression of insurgency and in the fight against criminality. The training was conducted the whole month.
Parojinog, acting on the proposal made by City Police C/Insp. Wilbur Salaguste, said his approval was based also on the provisions of RA 7160, Memo Circular 42-44, the Barangay Tanod Professionalization Program and EO 546.
EO 546, signed by President Gloria Arroyo, stressed on the role of local officials in drawing up internal security plans for their respective localities and enjoining the police in the effort of combating insurgencies and terrorism in the country.
Under EO 546, policemen are given more active roles in internal security concerns, which likewise direct them to actively support the military in suppressing insurgency and other serious threats to national security.
It also authorizes the PNP to deputize barangay tanods as “force multipliers” in the peace and order plan and in the local anti-terror drive.
Salaguste, in his letter then submitted to Parojinog with regards to the creation of the PAU, justified that even though the city is not in any way under threat by Moro extremist groups and communist insurgents, the proximity of the city to Lanao del Norte might be a a likely invitation for intrusions by breakaway groups who might cause trouble or inflict terrorist actions.
Salaguste then assured the mayor that with the deputization of the barangay tanods or PAU, streets crimes, including drug peddling, is predicted to reduce to half “and will continue to reduce to the lowest level for the next calendar year.”
“Insurgency and other threat groups will be prevented from intruding to Ozamiz City through timely report and immediate response from the PNP and PAU,” the police major added.
“Local and transient residents will ve provided with a 24/7 security in their respective homes and can sleep well without doubt of harassment and or danger.”
“Investment will rise and local employment will continue to grow because of the security imposed by the local government and the PNP,” Salaguste noted.
As of the latest reckoning, about 11o PAUs were deputized by the PNP, their creation and honorarium totaling some P2,438,105.
These PAUs were issued uniforms, all totaling P180,400 while their logistics, which includes flashlights, handcuffs, medicines and shotguns totaled P324,090.
With each PAU receiving P2,000 a month, all in all, these personnel receive a total P880,000 while P340,00 is allocated for their gasoline expenses, good for four months.