Media ready to take over as city police officials

CEBU, Philippines - A command conference between members of the Cebu City Police Office and the local media was done yesterday to finalize preparations for the very first Police-Media Interaction Day or “Police-MIND” program wherein mediamen are given the chance to be law enforcers for a day on Apr. 30.

CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said they are excited to show the public that the police are serious in their job as law enforcers.

He said the Police-MIND program is not a joke for them but a chance for the public to experience the life of a policeman through the local media.

Defense-PNP Press Corp (DEPP) president Chito Aragon was co-chairman of Buenafe as the lead convener of the conference. Aragon said the reporters are rather afraid of the responsibilities they are about to assume.

Despite this, preparations for the program are all ready.

Aragon also released the official assignments for the 11 stations and several special units mediamen will have the privilege to head Monday next week.

Chito Aragon (print media) will assume as CCPO director, Ryan Sorote (print) as CCPO Operations chief, Davinci Maru (print) as City Intelligence Branch chief, Arnold Bustamante (TV) as Investigation and Detective Management Branch chief, Guam Logroño (print) as Theft and Robbery Section chief, Rey Pasaporte (print) as Homicide Section chief, Eric Siras Manait (radio) as Traffic Division chief, Paul Lauro (radio) as Mobile Patrol Group chief, Chona Carreon (TV) as Public Safety Company chief and Gabriel Bonjoc (radio) as Special Weapon and Tactics team chief.

For the police station, Edwin Ian Melecio (print) will assume command of the Parian Police Station, Ana Desamparado (TV) the Fuente Police Station, Dario Gil (radio) Waterfront Police Station, Renante Lada (radio) Mabolo Police Station, Josefina Arcillas (radio) Carbon Police Station, Jill Tatoy (print) San Nicolas Police Station, Eric Amaro (radio) Pardo Police Station, Ruth Russell (print) Talamban Police Station, Monching Auxtero (TV) Guadalupe Police Station, Rhea Booc (print) Punta Police Station and Rowena Capistrano (radio) Mambaling Police Station.

Police-MIND will be opened by a turnover ceremony at the CCPO headquarters in Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr.

The ceremony will be attended by representatives from City Hall, the National Police Commission and the Police Regional Office–7.

Participants will perform the duties of the original police officials and station chiefs, the officials and chiefs will act as consultants for their media counterparts. –(FREEMAN)