In Cebu City: Fewer crimes amid holidays

CEBU, Philippines — Police in Cebu City have noted a decline in the number of crimes recorded despite the ongoing Christmas season and the Misa de Gallo, which are traditionally plagued by the occurrence of criminality.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, information officer of Cebu City Police Office, said on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, that they have only recorded six crimes from December 16, the official start of the Misa de Gallo, to December 20.

For a city that records at least 10 crimes per week, this number is already considered an achievement, according to Macatangay.

In fact, the information officer described the figure as “unexpected” because crimes usually go up in December because of the holidays.

Among other reasons, she attributed the decrease to the people's awareness of the increasing prices of commodities, which has made them extra careful of their belongings.

Apart from that, she also lauded the security measures done by CCPO to maintain peace and security in the city.

Of the six crimes recorded, four were theft incidents while the other two are physical injuries and robbery. All these were solved, either through settlements or cases filed against the culprits.

Macatangay said they are hopeful these figures will be sustained throughout the celebration of Christmas and New Year's Day.

She urged the public to respect the law and avoid starting or engaging in unlawful activities at all times.

Additionally, she called on business establishments to help the police and double their efforts to attain maximum security within their areas.

CCTV in police stations

Meanwhile, Macatangay assured that all Cebu City police offices have working closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, particularly in the Persons under PNP Custody (PUPC) facilities.

This was in response to Senator Raffy Tulfo's call that all Philippine National Police (PNP) stations must have operational security cameras to help stem the abuses committed by "police scalawags."

She said the initiative had been implemented in Cebu City long before Tulfo's mandate.

She added that they also laid out CCTV cameras to monitor contraband and ensure these would not enter specifically the jail facilities.

These CCTVs were donations from various sectors of the community and were, therefore, not part of their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, said Macatangay.

On Tulfo's allegations of human rights violations committed by police in police precincts, Macatangay clarified this is not happening in Cebu City.

"Here in Cebu City, wala na nahitabo. Here we adhere to our policies and laws concerning respecting the rights sa usa ka tawo and tanan nga pagpagawas ug pagpasud sa mga PUPCs nato nag subay na in accordance sa balaud ug sa procedures nato sa PNP manual," she said.— Romeo D. Marantal (FREEMAN)