1st police action center to rise in November

Three months from now, the first Community Police Action Center or COMPACT in Cebu would rise at the back of Fort San Pedro. The center aims to provide better and more personalized law enforcement service to the public.

The building of the action center will be funded by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry which according to acting city police director Melvin Gayotin would become an extension of the Waterfront Police station.

PNP chief Arturo Lomibao who led the groundbreaking ceremony at the site yesterday morning said the action center has the capability to patrol and perform other law enforcement functions.

According to Regional Police director Eduardo Gador, Compact was originally conceptualized by DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes to bring the three sectors such as the community, police, and local government units closer for crime prevention.

Lomibao said at least three such centers have already been established in Davao City. One is funded by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the second was established by the business community, while the third was through the efforts of the PNP.

Lomibao hopes that in here, more than three Compacts will be established because Cebu is big.

As this developed, Vice Mayor Michael Rama who was guest of honor during the groundbreaking ceremony along with councilor Augustus "Jun" Pe raised the possibility of building a better and more presentable Cebu City Police Office.

Lomibao immediately pledged P5 million to be taken from the PNP's coffers provided there would be a permanent lot on where to establish the building because the present space occupied by CCPO has ownership issues that need to be settled first.

He said Rama gave him two options namely to settle the ownership issue of the lot now occupied by CCPO or look for another lot on where to build the new office.

The lot now occupied by the city police is owned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.