ZAMBOANGA CITY – The City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) led by Mayor Celso Lobregat recommended the exemption of barangay tanods (village watchmen), civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs), and the so-called force multipliers from the gun ban implementation in the wake of numerous crime incidents that occurred in the city recently.

The recommendation, addressed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), is contained in a resolution authored by Councilor Edmundo Rodriguez, chairperson of the committee on peace and order, during the CPOC recent meeting held at the City Hall conference room.

The exemption from the Comelec gun ban, according to Lobregat, would allow watchmen, CVOs, and other volunteer groups in the villages to immediately respond to incidents perpetrated by lawless elements.

Citing the various gun-related cases that occurred in the city since the beginning of January, the CPOC members stressed that village watchmen, as well as barangay intelligence network (BIN) members, and other CVOs are helpless and are futile in responding to calls for security assistance.