Civilian drivers for MPG

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government wants civilian drivers to be involved again in the operations of the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) so police personnel can respond immediately to alarms without being delayed by the need to park their vehicles.

Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe strongly supports this.

Philip Zafra, head of the Civil Security Unit and chief of staff of Mayor Michael Rama, said that the civilian drivers will also help maintain the vehicles provided by the city.

The MPG operates with more or less 10 patrol cars provided by the City Government. But some are already deteriorating because of lack of maintenance.

Zafra said that it is understandable if police personnel could not maintain the vehicles because they are not trained to do so.

“Can you imagine a cop cleaning the patrol car before or after use? It is degrading. Naa’y tendency gyud na mademoralized sila. So we will get that job from them and help them focus on their jobs in maintaining peace and order in the city,” Zafra said.

By being able to maintain the vehicles, the City saves from repairs while police operations will not be interrupted and compromised.

MPG is an important unit of the Cebu City Police Office in responding to alarms like murder, robbery and shooting, among others.

The driver of the patrol vehicles, who are also policemen, could have been an additional force had there been someone else who can take care of the vehicle when they are responding to alarms.

Assigning civilian drivers to patrol cars was practiced in the past but this was stopped after unverified reports that they also got involved in illegal activities.

“But those are just rumors, not even verified. If naa man gani, isolated case ra siguro,” Zafra said.

He said the City Government will provide the drivers who will be taken from the pool of organic driver-employees of City Hall. There will also be a close monitoring of the activities of these drivers.

Zafra said they will not hire new drivers but will assign some of their 38 drivers of the city. Some 10 to 15 drivers will be pulled out and detailed at the MPG while will be reporting in three shifts.

He assured that the city’s operations will not be compromised by detailing some of its drivers to help the operation of the police. Zafra said this will be part of the Peace Development Plan that the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council and the CCPO are currently working on. — (FREEMAN)