PRO-7 director’s 2016 priority: More policemen in streets eyed

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from ensuring the security of two major events in Cebu this January, Police Regional Office-7 director Manuel Gaerlan said he will also be prioritizing in 2016 the need to increase police visibility on the streets.

Gaerlan has set this priority after observing that only few policemen could be seen on field.

He said that on the first month of 2016, PRO-7 will step up its security measures to ensure the safety of all participants of the Sinulog festivities and the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.

“But on coming months, priority ko is police visibility. After my evaluation on grounds, kulang pa lang talaga ‘yung pulis sa kalsada,” said Gaerlan.

According to him, policemen seen on the streets could already deter crimes as their presence could warn lawless elements.

 “Of course hindi lang iyan basta police presence. We will make it better ‘yung aming serbisyo, pag-aaralan namin closely ang crime incidents,” he said.

Gaerlan said he instructed his men to use scientific method in solving crimes and not just conduct police operations anywhere or anytime they want.

“Hindi ‘yung shotgun approach lang. For example, sa ganitong oras, dito rin dapat dahil dito mataas ang crime incidents,” said Gaerlan, adding that they will also focus on looking for repeat offenders.

Aside from the problem on police visibility, Gaerlan said police units in Central Visayas really lack patrol cars which are important for roving and for immediate response to emergencies.

In fact, the PRO-7 director said he has observed that some policemen in Cebu City would ride on the service vehicles of the barangays together with the barangay tanods to conduct patrolling.

“Kulang talaga. Maganda kasi ‘yung maraming umiikot,” Gaerlan said, as he called on the attention of local government units to assist the PNP in solving the problem by providing vehicles and other needs of the police.

Seaport security

Meanwhile, authorities have started beefing up security at seaports as people begin returning from the provinces after the long holidays.

Commodore Enrico Evangelista, Commander of Coast Guard District Central Visayas, said they are gearing up for a surge in the number of returning vacationers.

The bulk of returning vacationers is expected to arrive in Cebu starting tomorrow.

Evangelista said congestion and security have always become a major concern at the seaport premises because of the number of returnees.

 To avoid congestion and untoward incidents, Evangelista said they will maximize the deployment of their personnel all in major ports, such as in Cebu, Dumaguete and Bohol.

He said at least 90 PCG personnel were deployed to oversee the “busy” seaports of the three cities, with 54 of them assigned in Cebu.

 Based on their Passenger Assistance Monitoring, Evangelista said PCG recorded at least 26,684 outbound passengers and 17,514 inbound passengers in the cities of Cebu, Tagbilaran and Dumaguete.

He added that Coast Guard personnel were able to inspect 153 vessels, 84 motor bancas and 44 roll-on roll-off ferries.

Evangelista also said they deployed floating assets, such as BRP San Juan (SARV 001) and DF 318, a small craft.

Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station commander Agapito Bibat added that they augmented the floating assets, including 21 aluminum boats, one each SARV 001, 65-footer craft, maritime control surveillance vessel from BFAR, and rubber boats.

Bibat also said they deployed k-9 units and intelligence personnel in the port areas.  (FREEMAN)