City, CPPO get more cops

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has 54 more policemen while the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has 70 new officers.

Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador, CPPO director, said he still has to decide where to assign the 54 new policemen. The assignments will depend on where they live and which of the 50 police stations need additional men.

“Kung asa ang daghang crimes adto nako ibutang, depende pud kung asa gyud ila sa probinsiya,” Comendador told The FREEMAN.

He added that before the new policemen are deployed to their assignments, they will first undergo a three-day orientation which will start on Monday at the provincial headquarters.

The refresher course will include firing, patrolling and proper investigation, as well as policies on behavior and right conduct.

“They should be part of the solution to the problem and not be a part of the problem,” Comendador said.

Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe, who received an additional 70 personnel, challenges the new recruits to be always “on alert to serve.”

He said as new officers of the law, they must uphold their mandate which is to serve and protect their community and be good examples for the public to emulate.

Further, the city director also warned his new men to observe properly the “Tamang Bihis” which their regional director, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr., is strictly implementing throughout Central Visayas.

The additional officers at the CCPO however do not mean an increase in the number of policemen in the city compared to the previous years.

In 1994, the CCPO had around 1,000 men, roughly the same number as today. This is because despite the annual augmentation of officers from the PRO-7, there were those who died or were dismissed and those who retired. Of more than 500 applicants for this year’s second semester recruitment, only 280 were sworn-in. All recruits underwent agility test, neuro-psychiatric and drug tests, medical and dental examination and panel interview.

Garbo challenged the recruits to be a new breed of law enforcers and embody the ideals of public trust and be truthful servants of the community. (FREEMAN)