Police urge community to make own safety measures

THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office has urged the public and local businesses to take all the necessary measures needed to protect themselves from becoming a victim or target of the rising criminal activities in the city.

Senior Inspector Lemuel Gonda, Cocpo’s chief for operations, advised business establishments including residential houses to put up security alarm systems such as alarm bells and blinkers aside from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera to deter the crime.

He said that alarm bells and blinkers could be a big help to alarm the neighbors to help respond when a criminal activity takes place in a community.

“Parehas sa usa ka robbery sa Kauswagan nga walag yud nasayod and silingan nga establishment nga gitulis na diay ang abay niya nga Internet café kay normal man lang gud ang movement sa mga tawo sa sulod pero giti-unan na diay ug wala lang nilihok sa kahadlok nga pusilon,” Gonda added.

There will be more police deployment next week as the country observes the holy week. However, the police are reminding the public to be conscious with their safety and their security especially when leaving their houses to attend Lenten activities.

Gonda emphasized that the police need the full cooperation of the community since it is the responsibility of an individual to protect one’s own safety.

“Kumbaga magtinabangay ang tanan kay dili man gyud makaya kung pulis lang ang asahan, dapat kita mismo sa atong kaugalingon magbantay pud ta,” he said.

In the observance of the Holy Week, particularly Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, at least 400 police officers from the Regional Public Safety Battalion will be deployed to augment Cocpo’s security measures especially in all vital installations like the airport, seaports, bus terminals and other transportation facilities, and all the other economic key points and churches.

Police Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, the spokesperson of Northern Mindanao police, said that the presence of police and security guards is one of the best deterrents of crime while the people must be responsible to protect themselves from harm.

“When in trouble, it is necessary that they should seek the help of police officers deployed in the streets or ask the assistance of security guards of a nearby establishment,” he said in a statement.

He stressed that the community’s full cooperation is needed to ensure that everyone will not be bothered while observing the Lenten activities, and that everybody returns to their respective homes safely.