Teddy O contests transfer of Opao police station

CEBU, Philippines - Former Mandaue City Mayor and now provincial board member Thadeo Ouano wants the city government through Mayor Jonas Cortes to review and reconsider the facts and circumstances over the city's plan to remove the police station 6 in barangay Opao.

Ouano has sponsored a resolution at the provincial board which was also approved during last Monday's session asking the city government for reconsideration.

Earlier, the Mandaue City council approved a proposed resolution authored by Councilor Jimmy Lumapas to transfer the Opao police station to the abandoned office of the Public Weighing Station along A.C. Cortes Street in barangay Cambaro.

The decision to transfer the police station came after the city imposed the policy banning informal settlers from residing in the city's danger zones such as constructing houses over waterways and along riverbanks and creeks.

Ouano said he is not against the transfer of the Opao police station but there is still a need for the city to consider first the statistics of crime and population before the city and the local police decide to transfer the Opao police station.

Ouano said the reason why he built the Opao police station in his barangay when he was still the mayor of the city was because Opao is a crime-prone area.

The Opao police station safeguards three other barangays aside from Opao and these are Umapad, Cambaro, and Looc.

"Whereas, the demolition of the existing PNP sub-station 6 may be justified in order to widen the creek, the reestablishment or retention of the same PNP substation may also be sound management to advance public interest and general welfare based on the foregoing facts on population density and crime statistics in the vicinity," Ouano's resolution states.

He said he is not amenable with the proposed new location along A.C Cortes Street because it is not accessible to the people.

He wants a police station that is visible to the people.

"Ang ato unta nga maduol sa kasing-kasing sa katawhan ang kapolisan," Ouano said.

But in a separate interview with Lumapas, he said everybody is aware that the police station is sitting on a waterway.

And this should not be tolerated just because it will deter crime.

He said the city bans settlers from living on waterways and to comply with the three meters easement.

"We should follow the rules, dili kay naa ta in power selective na lang sad ta sa pagpatuman sa balaud," Lumapas said.

He said the police could still immediately respond to the alarm even if it's located far from residents citing the city fire station is located in barangay Centro and it is able to respond quickly to alarms.