EDITORIAL - Police assistance

We cannot really deny the fact that many police forces in some local government units across the country are saddled with the problem of lack of the necessary equipment to properly function in the drive against all forms of criminality.

Patrol vehicles, fuel, and firearms are just some of the basic means that police need in the performance of their mission, which mainly revolves around the need to maintain peace and order in a certain locality.

Unfortunately, many police forces, especially those in impoverished municipalities and cities suffer from this problem, a reality that has been seriously crippling their daily anti-crime campaign.

This problem, which has been going on for decades, can be largely attributed to the scarcity of financial and logistical budget. Although, annual appropriation for the police and military is one of the biggest among government agencies, it is still not yet enough to fuel an efficient operation.

That is why some LGUs in metropolitan areas are rising to the occasion, helping the local police department in their area financially and logistically so it can function properly in the peace and order campaign.

In Cebu City, for instance, the local government has been for decades extending assistance to the police. These forms of City Hall assistance include modern patrol vehicles, fuel allocations, and other equipment, aside from the financial allowance.

Now, as the new leadership takes over in the coming weeks, mayor-elect Edgardo Labella vows to increase the monthly financial incentives of the city police. This aside from additional patrol cars and firearms that he said the city government will extend to them.

A fully-equipped police force is vital to the effort against all forms of criminality. And because maintaining peace and order is not just the sole responsibility of the police, it’s good that the city government has been responsive to the needs of the local enforcement agency.