From category C to category A NAPOLCOM assures Mandaue police upgrade

The National Police Commission regional office yesterday assured it will recommend the upgrading of the Mandaue City Police to the level of Category A from Category C.

Hernani Espina, assistant regional director of Napolcom-7, said the office received copies of the resolution approved by the Mandaue City Council requesting Napolcom and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to upgrade the status of the Mandaue police command.

Espina said they are still conducting further assessment to determine if all the requirements for the upgrading have been complied by the police and the city government.

Although Mandaue City is classified as a highly urbanized city, its police force is still under Category C.

The need to upgrade the Mandaue police command was discussed during a meeting called by Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano a day after the ambush-slaying of businessman and presidential friend Wilson Yu.

Yu, 45, owns Wam Manufacturing and Development Corporation, a company that sells furniture and surplus vehicles. He was on his way to his office when he was waylaid by three men, one of whom peppered him with bullets from .45 caliber pistol.

The main topic discussed during the meeting that Ouano called was the Mandaue police command's lack of resources. At present, Mandaue City has a population of 300,000 but the policemen in the city are only 265. - Jose P. Sollano