Cops act as Citom “buddies”

CEBU, Philippines - Starting today, some 28 policemen will be deployed to Cebu City’s Traffic Patrol Group to become “buddies” with traffic enforcers manning the traffic in 14 hotspots in the city.

CCPO director Mariano Natuel Jr. said the buddy system was agreed with the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) to promote the safety among traffic enforcers following the shooting to death of a traffic enforcer two weeks ago.

“Dunay prerogative ang hepe sa traffic unsaon sila pag-deploy, but I want this 28 policemen to be assigned on the streets,” said Natu-el.

Aside from helping enforcers in directing and controlling traffic flow, Natu-el said the 28 policemen will also conduct roving patrol in their assigned areas, without necessarily staying away from their traffic enforcer buddies.

This policeman-traffic enforcer tandem will be assigned in the hotspot areas usually from 7 am to 7 pm, when traffic flow is heavy.

Areas of concern in the north district include uptown area until Cardinal Rosales Ave. and Gorordo Ave., Sudlon in Lahug to Salinas Drive, Cardinal Rosales corner Escario right below the flyover at the Cebu Business Park all the way to Grand Convention Center area, the rest of Escario street, provincial Capitol going to Osmeña Boulevard stretch, General Maxilom Avenue, Juan Luna Avenue and F. Cabahug St. to St. Benedict School, Carreta, and the Talamban proper.

South district areas identified to be in need of police visibility along with CITOM enforcers are those near the flyover in Barangay Mambaling, C. Padilla St. to the South Road Properties (SRP), V. Rama Avenue, south-bound Natalio Bacalso Ave. to Tagunol, Bulacao, F. Llamas St, and Tres de Abril St. to Barangay Tisa.

Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue in Barangay Banilad, where traffic enforcer Armando Daligdig was shot early this month, is among the hotspot lists.

Early this month, Daligdig was gunned down by a motorist while directing vehicles. The incident reportedly started from a traffic altercation. —(FREEMAN)