CEBU, Philippines - At least three police detachments will be established in the mountain barangays of Guba, Agsungot and Mabini in Cebu City to augment police visibility as the city strengthens its campaign against illegal drugs.
Vice Mayor Edgar Labella said the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) identified the areas during its meeting with the police and village chiefs who raised concerns over the drug problems in their respective barangays.
"All of them raised that it was difficult for them to really apprehend drug violators because of suspicions that police daw are in connivance or have some connections with drug couriers," Labella said.
The police personnel are allegedly connected with the Talamban Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the mountain barangays and, therefore, in charge of maintaining the peace and order there.
Talamban Police chief, Senior Insp. Bienvenido Miral, was tasked to verify and submit a report on the matter.
"I urge Miral to make verification how true this reports from barangays officials are," Labella said.
Last May 26, one Eleanor Rivera was shot twice by two men who robbed her when she parked her vehicle outside Ayala Heights in Barangay Busay. Policemen reportedly failed to respond to the incident immediately.
Labella said they will discuss in the next PCAC meeting the plan to also establish substations in the city's north district.
In its recent executive session with the City Council, a barangay captain had suggested that barangay tanods be allowed to carry firearms to help police in peace-keeping.
Labella welcomed the suggestion, but said that tanods should be made to undergo the same training police have undergone, as well as corresponding psychological and neurological examinations.
"It is not that easy to allow just any person to carry firearms. There has to be some kind of emotional stability for them to carry. They should have sufficient training," Labella pointed out. — (FREEMAN)