During grand parade, cops provide direct access

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office has launched the “Oplan Investigatours” program, which aims to provide a direct link between crime victims and the police on Sunday during the Grand Parade.

Cebu City Police Director Noli Romana said crime victims can get in touch with the police directly through 09151804191 and the police office will send investigators immediately to the victim’s location.

He said the victim must include the following information in the text message: Name, nationality, contact number and location.

“Kasi di alam ng turista yung area di alam kung kaninong jurisdiction yung incident (Tourists would not know under whose jurisdiction their location belongs),” Romana said.

Romana said they came up with the program because it is often the frustration of tourists if they have complaints that are not responded to by authorities.

“Mawala ang trust rating ng PNP kasi kapag di na address kaagad yung problem, magkaroon tayo ng bad image (They will lost trust in the PNP because if the problem is not addressed right away, we will have a bad image),” he said.

Still, considering that the number of policemen here is not commensurate to the number of civilians, Romana called on the public to cooperate by being vigilant, especially when they are in large crowds such as during the solemn procession on Saturday and the Grand Parade the following day.

The common trick by criminals is to destruct the victim’s attention so they can steal the belongings, he said.

“We cannot guard everyone. We cannot guard people one on one. Just the cooperation of everyone lalo na ng ating mga devotees, just be very always alert,” he said.

The PNP will deploy at least 2,100 organic personnel and at least 500 personnel from the Central Command during the Grand Parade. In total, around 8,000 personnel, including police interns and ROTC cadets, will help secure the city during the Grand Parade. Thousands of tourists flock to Cebu every year during the Grand Parade.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) Executive Director Rafael Yap also reminded motorists not to hesitate asking help from traffic enforcers.

Terrorism

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office -7 has conducted training among trainers for “target hardening” that aims to a national approach to tackle terrorism attempts.

PRO-7 Director Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino said training was also aimed at identifying possible threats to security and peace and order and eliminating target opportunities in Region 7.

“Yung target hardening, to strengthen soft targets, to identify possible elements threat against security and peace and order… we are eliminating the targets of opportunities for any terrorist groups to execute their plans,” Constantino said.

The ‘whole of nation approach,’ he said, was conceived after the police realized that the ‘whole of government approach’ is not enough to address the problem.

“Lahat ng government machinery government instrumentalities against terrorism, but they realized that government machineries and instrumentalities are not enough to combat terrorism (All of government’s machinery are instrumentalities against terrorism but they realized these are not enough to combat terrorism),” he said.

In fact, he said, the fight against terrorism is the fight of everyone. Constantino said it is important for the public and the police to work hand in hand.

The training was attended by police officers and security managers of local malls. Malls are common targets of terrorists because of the number of people that frequent in these establishments.

Constantino clarified, though, that they have not received any terrorism threat for the Sinulog but this does not mean the police can lower their guard.

“Kahit wala ng report, anytime they could execute the plan, pro-active, preventive (Even without reports, they can executive their plan anytime so it’s better to be proactive, preventive),” he said. – (FREEMAN)