City to build new Pardo cop station

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will soon build a new Pardo Police Station as Acting-Mayor Edgardo Labella described the present police station as "not really conducive for effective governance."

"When you open the door, you be immediately looking at the detention cell. And the chief station commander and the other policemen are on the second floor," Labella said, adding that the place is very constricted.

With this situation, he said "it's like the detainees are guarding the policemen on the second floor."

The Police Station 7 is located at the old building of the Pardo Carbon Market.

Senior Police Officer 3 Rene Barral, desk officer, said they do not have any choice but to accept their situation right now.

Fortunately, no detainee was able to escape from the detention cell due to the building design of the station.

"Dugay na ni ingon ani. Sa pagkakaron, okay ra man. Wala man kaayo'y problema. Naka-lock man sad gyud pag-maayo ang prisohan. Unya kun naa mi sa ibabaw, okay ra kay amo mang malantaw ang mobisita," Barral said.

When asked for the new police station to be built by the city government soon, he said it would greatly help them.

Labella said the city government is planning to build the station in front of Pardo Church near the fire department.

He has also instructed the Department of Engineering and Public Works to prepare a program of work and estimate for the budget of construction. —  Mechelle P. Florita

Meanwhile, during the weekly meeting of Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, Inayawan

Barangay Captain Lutherlee Soon has also requested for a police sub-station in her barangay to address the peace and order concerns. The barangay hosts around 30,000 residents.

"The PCAC passed a resolution to request the regional director of the Philippine National Police to station at least two or three personnel in Barangay Inayawan. And that if we cannot put up yet the sub-station, Soon is willing to accommodate because Inayawan is a huge barangay and there are peace and order concerns especially operation of illegal drugs," he added.