Labella to clear streets from litters, “rugby boys”

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella is seeking the assistance of Cebu City Police Office to clear the streets of the city from litters, traffic violators, and “rugby boys.”

Labella met with CCPO director Police Colonel Gemma Vinluan yesterday to discuss issues involving peace and order and other concerns.

“One of the concerns that we talked about is these rugby boys that are usually found in Mango Avenue, Fuente Osmeña. We have to undertake a deployment of some police officers. Although we cannot assert arrest these young minors because under Republic Act 9344, we cannot arrest them,” the mayor said.

Labella asked that police officers be deployed during wee hours of the night until the morning, especially in problematic areas. Saying the matter has been a concern for so many years, the mayor said he wants to put an end to seeing young people sniffing rugby along the streets.

“But we have to find a way where we could arrest the source of this rugby that they are sniffing. So, I ask the help of the police,” he added.

The mayor also wants the police to help in the anti-littering campaign and go after traffic violators. Labella said that policemen will be given citation tickets as deputies to help apprehend people caught throwing garbage anywhere and motorists violating traffic rules.

Labella said he has also reactivated the Cebu City Environmental and Sanitation Enforcement Team (CESET) under the watch of Grace Luardo.

“We agreed with Col Vinluan that we will deputize policemen to help us in the monitoring and apprehend those people who will indiscriminately throw their wastes and issue citation,” Labella said.

He said the more the policemen that will be deputized to apprehend violators the better.

To further maintain the peace and order situation of the city, Labella said there will be two barangay tanods to be deployed along with the policemen in every outpost.

“We also agreed nga kanang mga view decks will be augmented by multiplier forces or the barangay tanods in their respective barangays where these view decks are located. There will be two especially during the night. Dili mag-inusara ang police,” he said.

He said this would address allegations that barangay tanods are sleeping while on duty at night. (FREEMAN)