CEBU, Philippines - The Centro police station is not the most ideal station in the city right now, being located inside the former Mandaue City Public Market.
The market building appears to be falling apart, lacks a functioning comfort room, and running water is gone.
Centro police station chief P Chief/Insp. Jesus Elmer Fernandez yesterday said his men have been clamoring for relocation. He said the place is unsafe for both policemen and detainees.
Due to the lack of toilets, detainees relieve themselves in plastic bags and policemen dispose of the bags themselves.
And where do the policemen relieve themselves?
A nearby mall has toilets.
Fernandez said last January he brought up the problem with Mayor Jonas Cortes. The mayor sent an engineer to the station but no renovation was made.
Yesterday, city market administrator Mosulini Suliva offered a space at the third floor of the new public market.
Fernandez said he will relay Suliva’s offer to city police director P Sr./Supt. Noel Gillamac.
Station chief P/Insp. Jimmy Fortes said his police station in barangay Casuntingan lacks a detention cell for women detainees.
However, he said the lack of it does not hamper their work. – THE FREEMAN