CEBU, Philippines - After various incidents involving tourists, the Tourist Police Unit in Cebu City is encouraging tourist guide companies to orient foreigners on safety guidelines when roaming around the city.
“Di ba dunay tour guide… ang tour guide mo-implement unta sila og mga guides ba nga kaning dinhi murag dunay delikado kaayo kay kasagaran naay mga mokuha ra ba mga butang dili nato mahibaw-an kinsa na siya so at least makahatag sila information nga wala gyud mahitabo nila,†SPO4 Romeo Cabrera, Deputy Chief of the Tourist Police Unit in Cebu City said.
Fortunately, according to Cabrera, only minor incidents, like robberies, are happening in Cebu City.
In a week, there’s an average of two to three incidents in the city involving foreigners.
He said the areas where incidents involving foreigners usually happen are in nightclubs like in Mango Avenue.
“Naa may mga bata mga libod suroy moduol niya mangayo sa mga foreigners usahay gakson niya ang cellphone kuoton,†he said.
A policeman is assigned in this area every Friday until Sunday from 10 p.m. to 3 p.m. to secure the safety of the tourists. There are also cops assigned at the four tourist spots in the city which include Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Port San Pedro, Magellan’s Cross and Casa Gorordo. There are also 12 “bicycle cops†roving around the city.
Cebu City’s Tourist Police Unit has at least 42 policemen. —/ATO (FREEMAN)