Gayotin warns cop-trainees vs. not paying jeepney fare

Cebu City police chief Supt. Melvin Gayotin yesterday warned policemen who are on Field Training Program against not paying jeepney fare after receiving numerous complaints.

Gayotin said he has already ordered FTP supervisors in all police stations to remind police trainees assigned in their areas that they are not exempted from paying PUJ fare.

Gayotin pointed out that even those police detectives or secret marshals deployed in the streets to ride with passengers are not exempted, but that it is up to the drivers if the secret marshals would be allowed to get a free ride.

Some drivers complained that, "these police rookies would introduce themselves as secret marshals, but that they looked more like FTP trainees." This is not the first time this month that PUJ drivers complained about policemen who introduced themselves as secret marshals and, for being so, get off the vehicle without paying the fare.

"We are not using FTPs as police detectives, so wala sila'y reason para mamukong," Gayotin said.

He clarified that these police detectives were told to ask permission from drivers if they would be allowed to board the PUJ for the trip. These secret marshals are to watch and catch those staging robberies inside the PUJs.

For this, Gayotin urged drivers to jot down the identities of erring policemen based on their nameplates and to report such to his office. "If they have second thoughts of personally reporting the matter to the police director, they may text it through crime hotline 09214931616 so that the CCPO could act on it promptly," he said. - Edwin Ian Melecio/MEEV