Official: Rama can’t remove police station

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama can’t just remove the tourist police station, also known as the Community Police Action Center, located in front of the City Hall.

This was according to Cebu City Police Office Deputy Director for Administration, Superintendent Artemio Ricabo, who was present yesterday during the budget hearing of the City Council.

“I think that could not be. Why? Because the infrastructure in front of the City Hall was constructed through PNP fund. Pag alisin natin ‘yan, baka ma-question tayo sa COA (Commission on Audit),” he said, when asked by City Councilor Sisinio Andales if the plan of Mayor Rama to remove the police station would be possible.

Ricabo was present in yesterday’s budget hearing as the council deliberated the proposed P278 million for the city’s peace and order program.

Earlier this month, Rama was irked over the failure of the tourist police to notice that there was a drug den just a few meters from the station, which was later raided by the National Bureau of Investigation,

Also, Rama said the police station should be removed as it destroys the heritage value of the area.

“Ipa tanggal ang Compact because that compact aside from dili na makita ang Yutivo (old building near the area), dili makita ang unsay mahitabo sa pikas. Tangtanga na diha diba makakita ka diha dapita,” Rama said in his regular press conference yesterday.

“That Compact has obstructed City Hall, obstructed Yutivo, obstructed Magellan’s Kiosk, it really had way or the other desecrated the sanctity and the heritage value within this vicinity,” he added.

Rama wants the tourist police station to be incorporated, either with Station 3 Waterfront Police Station or in Station 5 Carbon Police station, which he is eyeing to transfer near the Compania Maritima building.

However, Councilor Andales believes that the removal of the police station would not resolve the illegal activities in the area.

“The mayor should spend his intelligence funds on how to address the problem, and not remove the police station,” he said.

Ricabo said there are instances that the police station could not directly detect the presence of a drug den, especially if the community would not help them.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rama said he will be coordinating with the Cebu Provincial Government, who owns the area where the drug den was located.

Rama said he wants the area to be cleared and initially plans to convert it into a park.

He said he was informed that the area was a road before and is now encroached with settlers.

The drug den was located ten meters away from the Cebu City Hall.  (FREEMAN)