Cops seek cars, radios from City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - To better respond to alarms, the Cebu City Police Office is asking at least 18 vehicles and some radios from the city government.

Police Senior Superintendent Benjamin Santos Jr., acting CCPO director, said he requested for at least 15 cars for the Mobile Patrol Group and three vans for the Special Weapons and Tactics team.

"Wala tayong specs sa cars. Ang importante umaandar (We don't have specifications for the cars, as long as they are functioning)," he said.

Santos said they also badly need radios now since those supposed to be issued by the central office are still being bid out.

He hopes that quality radios will be given to them as the cheap ones could only receive alarms but could not transmit messages.

At present, CCPO only has 213 radios available for use by its 1,300 personnel. Because of the shortage, Santos said some of his men are now using their own radios.

Santos said the radios he is requesting from the city will be given only to selected police units which respond to emergencies, such as MPG and SWAT.  (FREEMAN)