Tighten security: Rama to CCPO

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday ordered the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to intensify its security measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Rama held a command conference yesterday with CCPO Chief Senior Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe, all heads of the city’s 11 police stations and members of the City’s Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (Pcac) to discuss the matter.

During the command conference, Rama said he wants police deployed in densely populated areas in the city, aside from cemeteries.

These are convenience stores, pawnshops, gasoline stations, money changing shops and other public places.

“These are areas that are targets of crime and other undesirable activities,” he said.

The mayor is also asking the barangays to deploy all its barangay tanods to help the police in maintaining peace and order in the city.

Rama called on the Bureau of Fire Protection to park all its fire trucks near cemeteries in case there will be emergencies.

“It is better to be over prepared than under prepared,” he said.

Rama advised the public to be “over vigilant” and contribute in maintaining order in the city.

“Have patience when there are body checks. Okay ra nang discomfort basta manageable comfort kaysa naa na nuoy tragedy,” he said.

Buenafe said two closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed in each cemetery in the city on Nov. 1 and 2.

Entry and exit points of the cemeteries in Calamba, Carreta, Cempark Cemetery, Chinese Cemetery and Queen City Gardens will have CCTV cameras.

The CCPO will also be on full alert starting Oct. 31 until Nov. 3. All policemen in the city will be deployed to cemeteries, bus terminals and seaports.

Last year, Buenafe also installed CCTV cameras in the cemeteries.

He said it was very effective in monitoring the situation inside and outside the cemeteries.

Contraband

He sad policemen will also be stationed in the cemeteries’ entrance to make sure no contraband gets in.

Bladed weapons and other items that might be used to commit crimes will be confiscated.

“Kung nakainom ka at nalasing ka, huwag ka nalang gumala o lumabas ng bahay para walang gulo (If you’re drunk, just stay at home),” advised Buenafe.

He said people should not leave their house unattended to prevent burglaries. They should also refrain from wearing expensive items, like jewelry.