Capitol, PNP launch P11M permanent provincial police headquarters in Lahug

After moving seven times from one site to another, the Cebu Police Provincial Office would soon have a permanent headquarters at the provincial lot in Sudlon, barangay Lahug, which the PNP and the provincial government had launched in a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.

PNP Chief Oscar Calderon, who attended the launching, said this is the first provincial police headquarters in the country that would be constructed with funds from a provincial government.

The two-storey CPPO building will be a class A headquarters on a permanent site that the provincial government would construct at a cost of P11.7 million, while the PNP would spend P10 million for logistics such as firearms, ammunitions, and other police equipment.

Also launched was the Capitol's computerization program for the CPPO, another project that Governor Gwen Garcia had committed for her administration's partnership with the PNP's peace and order campaign in the province.

Governor Garcia said, "We further strengthen the capability to respond to crime by launching this computerization program, to make information technology work for the police force and our people in this common fight against crime."

Senior Superintendent Vicente Loot had started these two projects during his time as CPPO director. He said it is fulfilling now to see the products of his past efforts become a legacy of his stint while still the head of the CPPO.

"We do not only increase mobility and accessibility, we also help you find and build a new and permanent home," incumbent CPPO director, Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, quoted the governor as telling the PNP.

The governor had previously provided jeeps to every police station in the towns and cities of the province, aside from radio communications system that covers a province-wide frequency.

With the CPPO headquarters in place, Calderon announced that the PNP would also build decent houses for every policeman in the province.

With the Capitol's computerization program for CPPO, Calderon added that this should improve the dynamism and professionalism of the police force here in fulfilling its mandate to serve and protect the public.

At the close of the ceremony, Calderon conferred the Medalya ng Kasanayan on Sr. Supt. Loot for his outstanding performance during his stint as CPPO director, and on PO2 Artemio Tumakas, a CPPO intelligence operative.

Calderon also conferred the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting to each of three policemen who were wounded in the line of duty: PO3 Frederick Eslit, and PO2s Roberto Pepito and Jomar Ybañez of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Station.

PO3 Ronelito Montañez, of the CPPO operations branch, received the Medalya ng Kagalingan.

Certificates of appreciation were given also to Bigfoot Asia Pacific Foundation Inc.-through its chairman John Joseph Mercado, Bigfoot Asia Foundation Inc. for software development, and the Aboitiz Group Foundation, Inc. represented by Erramon Aboitiz for hardware and servers.

The other recipients were Bob Gothong, president and chief executive officer of Gothong Southern Group, and the municipal mayors of Naga, Asturias, Boljoon, Tuburan, Sogod, Moalboal, and Daan Bantayan-all for their support in CPPO development projects. - Gregg M. Rubio and Norvie S. Misa