BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, April 15 (PIA) -- Police assistance desks have been set up and more police deployed to areas of convergence since last week as
part of the security measures by the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) to ensure peace and order in
observance of the Holy Week.
Senior Supt. Edward Carranza, chief of the Regional Directorial Staff of PRO-7 said they are on heightened alert and that police visibility is strengthened in areas like bus terminals, seaports, airports and churches.
“A memo circular has already been issued to all provincial and city police offices in the region to implement its own security plan with regards to the Holy Week period,” said Carranza during the recent ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ or TSIP Forum.
Carranza said the PRO-7 has also instructed the Highway Patrol Group to assist travelers on road trips as there are also a number of tourists who are taking advantage of the long Lenten break to have a vacation.
Carranza said the Task Force Turista has been strengthened in Lapulapu City, Cebu and in Bohol, being two popular tourist destinations during the summer holiday.
“There is a strong directive from our Regional Director Gen. Danilo Constantino to also increase police visibility in Metro Cebu to protect tourists from street crimes,” said Carranza.
Carranza said all lower police units know their responsibility and part of it is to inform the public about their emergency or hotline numbers and cell phone numbers for the public to immediately report crimes the soonest possible time.
In Cebu City, more policemen will be deployed in Good Shepherd in Banawa and Buhing Kalbaryo in Guadalupe in anticipation of jam-packed crowd in both areas.
“There are lesser crimes reported during the Holy Week period in the city as more people are going out to the provinces. But we are ready and police assistance desks have been established in every church, malls, bus terminals and seaports,” bared Supt. Arnel Banzon, deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office.
For Mandaue City, 28 police assistance desks (PADs) have been set up including in the 10 churches while on standby are the medical and fire emergency units, said Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino, the deputy city director for operations of Mandaue City Police Office.
On top of setting up the PADs, the Lapulapu City Police Office (LLCPO) also tapped the Association of Hotels and Resorts Security Officers to help them by having their own tourist assistance desk in their respective establishment, disclosed LLCPO Operations Chief Supt. Percival Zorilla.
Part of the security measures implemented by the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) is the augmentation of 114 police personnel in Bantayan Island and Minglanilla for the Buhing Kalbaryo event, where full crowd is always expected, said Supt. Resty Santo of the legal service of the CPPO.
Carranza said although the police in Central Visayas are ready and prepared to secure the public during the Holy Week period, “we still appeal to the public to help us in making the region safe and peaceful at all times.” (mbcn/PIA-7)