Lapu-Lapu police reshuffling stalled

CEBU, Philippines - Acting police director Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc could not yet tell when the proposed reshuffling of police personnel in Lapu-Lapu City will be implemented.

Radoc yesterday confirmed his men will indeed be reshuffled to improve police performance as earlier suggested by Mayor Paz Radaza.

"Tag-two years and reshuffling and if there's a need for a call (to transfer), buhaton gyud nato," he said.

However, Radoc has not yet set a definite schedule for the revamp due to lack of manpower.

Radoc said they will be tapping the tourist police so as not to cripple the functions of the city police.

Lapu-Lapu City is home to 464 police personnel, including tourist police and non-uniform personnel.

The police official said the tourist police should be under a different office as this was the arrangement in his previous assignments in some part of the Visayas.

Radoc said tourist police in Lapu-Lapu City should be given activation order from the Camp Crame. The activation order will authorize tourist police to function mainly for the security of visitors and travellers.

Once the activation order is implemented, tourist police will not be included in the police population and will have its separate unit.

As of now, there are around 91 tourist police personnel in the city.  Radoc said they will hire another 120 as additional manpower if activation order will take effect.

Meanwhile, Radoc said they are now on the process of scouting potential intelligence chief to replace Senior Inspector Rogelio Pineda, who has been relieved from his post as chief of City Intelligence Branch and City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations task Group.

"Mo-scout pa mi for intelligence unit kay mo-handle man gud ni siya og confidential documents," Radoc said.

Senior Inspector Judith Besas of the Women and Children's Protection Desk serves as the officer-in-charge of the CIB and CAIDSOTG.  (FREEMAN)