Irresponsible Gun Owner of the Day: Cresente Generale

June 27, 2011

A tanod in the Philippines is the equivalent of, oh, a deputy here. They handle minor law enforcement issues, direct traffic, write tickets. Like that. Saturday night, tanods in the village of Pitalo responded to a report of men playing hantak, described as “an illegal coin game.” It was obviously a slow night because they sent four tanods to break up the equivalent of guys playing craps on the corner . . .

Tanods aren’t usually armed. But the chief tanod, Cresente Generale, had his .45 with him. As Generale and Allan Ladica approached the men playing the game, Generale decided to get their attention by firing five shots into the ground. One of the bullets ricocheted, struck Ladica and killed him.

Pitalo Captain Jessielito Pelimer said he didn’t know Generale even owned a gun. He’d like to ask him why he felt it necessary to fire into the ground, but Generale took off after the shooting and hasn’t been seen since.

There’s never a good reason to fire a gun if you don’t have to. It looks like Generale decided to go all Nuke Laloosh and announce his presence with authority. Using a gun as the equivalent of a bullhorn is, well, irresponsible and could escalate an otherwise routine situation.

There’s no string on a bullet. Once the trigger’s pulled, you can never be completely sure where it will ultimately end up. As Generale (and Ladica) found out, bullets can deflect off of rocks, skip on water or overpenetrate. Better to keep the heater in the holster until it’s absolutely necessary.

11 COMMENTS

Robert Farago June 27, 2011 At 11:02

Armed tanods? The mind boggles.

Great picture of hantak (and explanation of the rules) here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gogo159/5743176033/
- Bob H June 27, 2011 At 11:14
  
  Any idea why there is a tree stump sticking up through the floor of the building?
  - Ralph June 27, 2011 At 11:22
    
    Unfortunately, they built the house on top of an acorn.
  - Leo Atrox June 27, 2011 At 17:43
    
    Indoor plumbing?
Ralph June 27, 2011 At 11:04

Generale is now qualified to be instructor for the Chicago PD.
CUJO THE DOG OF WAR June 27, 2011 At 11:21

You know how the old saying goes: “Tanod today, no tanod tomorrow.” And: “Carpe Tanod.”
- TTACer June 27, 2011 At 11:51
  
  He should tanod have done that.
  - CUJO THE DOG OF WAR June 27, 2011 At 13:11
    
    Ha! “Tanod or not tanod, that is the question.”
    - Ralph June 27, 2011 At 16:37
      
      Whoa. I tanoded out for a minute there.
Bob H June 27, 2011 At 17:36

I can never recall whether it is t’anode or t’cathode which the electricity flows out of.
carrymagnum August 10, 2012 At 20:41

You really saved Ralph’s good name there man.