Deployed cops feel “at home”

CEBU, Philippines - Even as they are deployed for 12 hours a day, some policemen assigned to the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue to secure the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates feel “at home” and pay no heed to the puzzling food allowance controversy as long as they have three meals a day.

Assigned to watch the circumferential road in Barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City, a policeman from Bohol said he has had no problems being deployed in the area.

“Okay ra man ko sa akong pagka-deploy dinhi, wala ma’y problema kay naa ra man ko nagpuyo sa balay sa akong sister didto sa Barangay Basak. Naa man siya sa Dubai ron, silbi ako sa ang bantay sa iyahang balay,” the Bohol-native policeman said.

He also said he did hear about confusing reports from his colleagues about the food allowance for policemen assigned to secure APEC delegates.

“Gi-inform mi daan sa head office nga P150 ang among meal allowance. Para sa ako, okay ra man na kay makadawat man sad mi’g sweldo,” he added.

The policeman said that some of his colleagues from Bohol are temporarily staying on the second floor of the Ibo Barangay Hall.

He added that he did not need to adjust to the city since it has the same vibe as his hometown, although he admitted that he would call his wife and their child if he felt lonely.

“Kung mingawon ko sa akong pamilya, manawag lang ko sa akong wife sa cellphone, mangumusta niya ug sa akoang bata,” he added.

A policeman from Dumaguete City also assigned here for the APEC meetings said he does not pay heed to the controversy. He said what matters most is that they have three square meals a day.

“Na-assign man mi sulod sa usa ka resort dinhi. Okay ra man mi, nakakaon sad mi og tarong,” he said.

At Norkis Park, Mandaue City, another policeman from Negros Oriental said he is also confused as to the exact amount of their food allowance, but he added what is important is his service to the people and that they are getting meals thrice a day.

“Kung malito ko, wala naman na basta makahatag lang sila og pagkaon, okay na,” he said.

He added he did not feel homesick.

“Okay ra man gyud bisan out of the comfort zone mi kay nakaagi man sad mi og training. Okay ra kayo… Among billeting area kay safe mi. Naay tubig ug CR. Naa pud mi hayhayan sa kilid kung manglaba mi,” he said.

No beddings for some

The Police Regional Office-7 explained that the augmentation personnel who are reportedly sleeping in their billeting areas without proper sleeping materials were reminded ahead of time to bring their own as it was not part of the budget.

This after reports came out that some augmentation personnel from other provinces are sleeping on cardboard boxes and hammocks in their billeting areas after securing the streets during daytime.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Regional Directorial staff in the PRO-7, said before these almost 3,000 policemen from provinces of Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Regional Public Safety Battalion-7 and other parts of Cebu Province arrived here they were told to bring their own personal necessities including sleeping materials.

“They were properly advised gyud nga ilaha na na,” said Lawas.

He said during the planning stage, PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, ordered the directors of Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, to look for billeting areas for the augmentation personnel which will be provided for them.

However, as to their sleeping materials, Lawas said this is already the responsibility of the policemen.

“We cannot provide it all and first of all, it’s already part of their Replacement Clothing Allowance. Gina-budget na. Every three years, naa ta’y nadawat niana. Another thing, that’s not included in the budget provided for the APEC,” he said.

Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman, who witnessed the situation of the policemen billeted in the gym of their barangay, said he felt sorry for some of them.

“Luoy baya sila kay wala’y klarong katulganan,” said Ayuman, adding that he saw to it that the policemen would have portable toilets and water.

Augmentation personnel are assigned to different areas in the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu.

In Lapu-Lapu City, the augmentation personnel are staying at the barangay halls of Barangay Mactan, Barangay Ibo and Barangay Punta Engaño.

In Mandaue City, the billeting areas of the policemen deployed are Norkis Park and the Department of General Services building.

While in Cebu City, augmentation personnel are temporarily staying at the Barangay Apas Gym, the Mabolo Elementary School and the Senior Citizen’s building at the South Road Properties.

More cops

From the initial 446 police force assigned to the city, Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office said another 75 policemen were augmented for APEC security coverage.

“They are now 521 police officers in the city hailing from Negros Oriental and Bohol. The most dominant now are the police from Bohol,” he said.

Radoc added they monitor the whereabouts of policemen deployed in the city who are currently staying in boarding houses. —/BRP (FREEMAN)