Council approves budgets to boost police force

CEBU, Philippines – The City Council has approved the budgets intended to augment the city’s police force - P2.5 million to cover firearms proficiency training of members of the city police and P90,000 to provide for laboratory needs for Scene of the Crime Operations.

The two budgets were approved through separate resolutions passed by Councilor Augustus Pe, head of the council’s Committee on Peace and Order.

Of the P2.5 million for firearms proficiency, P2.471 would go to the training itself while the rest would be used to acquire various supplies for the Crime Laboratory Office

The first resolution authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to enter into a contract with the Cebu City Pistol and Rifle Association through its vice president for operations Albert Lim. The city’s Bids and Awards Committee awarded the project to association, as it was the lone bidder.

The project’s Terms of Reference stipulates that the safety and protection of Cebu City residents against lawless elements has always been the primordial concern of the city government.

“While it is with the police that the primary duty and obligation to protect the citizenry lies, Cebu City Government is very cognizant of the incremental value of support that the latter may extend to the former,” the TOR says.

The training aims to re-certify armed police officers in carrying firearms; inform them of the escalation and the de-escalation of “force issues,” as well as in the use of deadly physical force; and to display their knowledge and proficiency of “deadly force issues” through approved written tests and shooting proficiency exercises.

The training has four segments and will be completed before the year ends.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said peace and order is mostly measured with the kind of support the police gets from the local government. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)