CCPO wants free, direct hotline number

CEBU, Philippines - So that police can respond immediately to incidents, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will coordinate with telecommunication companies for direct calling of emergency hotline numbers.

CCPO acting director Mariano Natu-el said they are coordinating with the Police Coordinating and Advisory (PCAC) in arranging a dialogue with service providers such as the Philippine Long Distance Company, Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, and Sun Cellular.

Natu-el said they will request these telecommunication companies to especially cater to emergency hotline numbers such as 166 for crime and 160 in cases of fire so that anyone can directly dial these numbers using their mobile phones.

“Naa nala'y one number to call for emergencies ba, dili na gani mag-dial pa og bisan unsang numbers. For example diri sa Cebu City, ang contact number is 166 lang, so mas madali sa mga nagkinahanglan og tabang to call, (There will be just one number to call for emergencies. For example in Cebu City, the contact number is only 166 so it is easier for those who need police assistance to call.)” Natu-el explained.

Natu-el said they were prompted to take this action after noticing that in cases of emergencies like jeepney robberies or snatching incidents, the concerned individual calls their family or relatives, who will then be the ones to relay the matter to the police.

Such process, Natu-el said, is time-consuming. Police could respond immediately if the victims directly call the police right after the incidents.

“There's a case gi-represent ni Eugene Elizalde, chairman sa PCAC na there's a friend and may tulis inside sa jeepney then ang gitawgan ang parent. Nganong di man ang pulis para dali ang response? (There's a case where there's a friend robbed inside a jeepney and he called his parent. Who not call the police so that there will be faster response?)” Natu-el further pointed out.

The CCPO director said the emergency hotline number 166 is also the same number used as local number in some areas in Cebu City, so they may come up with other three-digit hotline numbers during their meeting with the telecommunication companies. — (FREEMAN)