68 new cops not enough - Comendador

CEBU, Philippines - The 68 new policemen set to be assigned to various police stations today are still not enough to meet the demands of the entire province, Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said yesterday.

Based on the 2007 census, the provincial police office has the strength of 1,594 personnel to protect a population of 2,819,883. Comendador said that would need about 1,700 policemen to keep the ideal balance.

“If subayon ang strength sa population kulangon gihapon,” Comendador said in a press conference yesterday.

Most of the 68 new members of the Philippine National Police will be deployed to police stations in metro areas in the northern and southern parts of the province, as well as to municipalities that have a higher crime rate.

Out of more than 500 applicants, only 280 police recruits were sworn into service at the PRO-7 with Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo last month. All of them underwent an agility test, a neuro-psychiatric, a drug test, medical and dental examination and panel checking.

Garbo challenged all recruits to be a new breed of law enforcers who embody the ideals of public trust and that they should be truthful servants and protectors of the community.

“They could really help in maintaining peace in the province,” he said.

Next month, about 400 new police recruits are expected to be deployed across the entire Central Visayas. — (FREEMAN)