City cops to serve as tourist police

Foreign and local tourists will now be assured of a more convenient, peaceful, and safe travel to the city's tourist destinations as 10 policemen of the Cebu City Police Office will not only be performing their job as regular police, but will also be serving as tourist police to help in the promotion of tourist spots here.

Councilor Augustus "Jun" Pe, who is in-charge of establishing the city tourist police, yesterday said the project will be able to enhance the general peace and order situation in tourist destinations and ensure the safety of tourists.

The 10 city tourist policemen will be provided with motorcycle for patrol and or visibility purposes particularly at the city's historic sites such as the Heritage Monument in Parian, Plaza Independencia and Magellan's Cross.

Aside from their functions of ensuring police visibility at all times in designated tourist areas, they are also expected to perform security investigations and follow up operations on crimes committed against tourists in the said areas.

"We will give our tourists special treatment as they contribute to the cohesiveness of our tourism industry here," Pe told The FREEMAN.

Aside from their city police uniform, the tourist police will be provided with another set of uniform. Tourist police will be visible next month in tourist areas where they will be designated.

Also, Mayor Tomas Osmeña and PNP regional director Silverio Alarcio will be signing a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a Community Police Action Center (COMPACT) station.

The city will be donating a 204-square-meter lot to the PNP for the COMPACT station, to be built before the ASEAN Summit in December, at an area accessible to people.

Under the two-page draft of the MOA, Pe said the PNP is tasked to finance the construction, while the city will only be providing the site.

The police will also be responsible for the maintenance and necessary repairs for ordinary "wear and tear" of the police station.

Pe added that the site for the COMPACT station is located near Magallanes Street corner D. Jakosalem Street since many tourists are up with a visit to the historic Magellan's Cross there.

"This allows policemen a strategic and better post because the place is accessible to people and serves the public most hours of the day and night," he said. - Garry B. Lao