Groups march against violence

WHILE calling to end criminalities and violence in Cagayan de Oro City, civil society groups, students and families of victims urged law enforcers to arrest criminals during the People’s March against Crimes and Violence Sunday afternoon.

A petition signed by the Concerned Friends and Citizens of Cagayan de Oro City was read during the protest. The groups demanded that the perpetrators be made accountable for the increasingly daring crimes especially occurring in broad daylight.

The petition also called for swift decisive action to identify and bring them to justice for their acts of unspeakable violence and human brutality.

“We will no longer accept the irresponsible and inane comments of officials who are supposed to protect the citizens of this city. This is no longer business as usual. It is time to fix this broken city,” the petition read.

Jonas Miñoza, 52, joined the march despite the handicapping condition to expose the crime done against his daughter whose mobile phone was robbed near a department store in the city.

Miñoza said that crimes in the city can be solved if the City Government will be serious in its intention and desire by providing the law enforcers with sufficient support.

“I don’t think nagtulog-tulog lang ang mga pulis, kulang lang gyud og supporta sa city government. Parehas ra gud sa empleyado kung dili sweldohan dili pud ganahan motrabaho,” Miñoza told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro on Sunday.

Farina Roa, a student of Xavier University who also led the noise barrage initiated by a university here, said her group supported the march because the rising crime rate in the city is now very alarming.

She also called on the police to put up a hotline number that can easily be remembered and dialled.

“Naa daw 888 pero until now it’s not accessible with the other telephone networks. But still it’s more on the local government to work for the peace and order in the city,” Roa added.

For his part, Police Senior Inspector Lemuel Gonda, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office’s (Cocpo) chief for operations who also joined the walk, said a special investigation task group composed of Cocpo’s special units has been created to address the robbery and shooting incidents in the city.

Apart from the task force, simultaneous checkpoints in various parts of the city have been set up together with the conduct of “Oplan Bakal,” and peace and order drive.