New Panglao Police building inaugurated

PANGLAO, BOHOL, Philippines — The newly constructed P4.4-million building of the Panglao Police was inaugurated and turned over to the municipal government in ceremonies held Thursday.

Mayor Leonila Montero said the new building was significant, as it was very much needed to decongest a part of the old municipal hall building where the police department had occupied earlier, along with the detention cell.

The event was also attended by Governor Edgar Chatto, Superintendent Alet Virtusio, officer-in-charge of the Police Regional Logistics Division; Chief Inspector Edgar Dampios of the PRO-7 Regional Engineering Office; Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes; and Panglao Police chief Joemar Pomarejos, among others.

Reverend Father Alberic Bonje, parish vicar of the St. Augustine Parish, officiated the blessing of the new building, located in front of the municipal hall, in a lot donated by the LGU itself.

Montero thanked the provincial government and the police for collaboration efforts to make the building a reality.

Virtusio, for his part, said the new police building is now a “show window” for the tourist town. He also said it serves as the continuing commitment of the Philippine National Police to achieve the police’s upgrading program, which he described as “move, shoot and communicate.”

“Move” meant providing police vehicles for mobility, such as the turnover of 47 service cars a day earlier held at Camp Dagohoy; “shoot” referred to providing new firearms for every police officer; and “communicate” in providing radio systems to the police nationwide.

Virtusio said that having a new building further served as reminder to the police to treat everybody equal, and observe the human rights protocol.

Other police buildings were slated to be constructed in Tagbilaran City, and in the towns of Calape, Trinidad and Alburquerque, while one more building project has been set for bidding in Loay town. —Ric V. Obedencio (FREEMAN)