Mayor eyes more police stations in city

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is planning to establish more police stations in the city especially in mountain barangays, this amid the apparent lack of policemen.

Rama said the city is mostly made up of mountains but development is “growing up.”

He said he is planning to add around 10 more stations to the currently 11 police stations and two of these might be constructed in the mountain barangays – one for the south district and one for the north district.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, also chair of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC), earlier voiced out the lack of police personnel who can respond to incidents within the city.

“Kay ang ato gyud gani ratio na one (policeman) is to five hundred persons has not been really achieved,” he said.

Rama, recognizing the problem, supported Leballa’s concern, saying there are only less than 2,000 policemen under Cebu City Police Office.

“Daghan kaayo needed policemen if in case we will add police stations. Wala pa gani siguro ‘ta kaabot og 1,200,” he said.

With this, Rama said he will call on the national government to give more support to Cebu City.

“Aron sad maka-create og alarm adto sa national government that they should also add up,” he said.

Labella said PCAC has been coordinating with the barangays to help the police in securing the public. — Mechelle P. Florita/NSA (FREEMAN)