Monday, October 09, 2006 Citom takes up plan to arm enforcers
THE Cebu City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) board will discuss this Wednesday the possibility of arming enforcers after a driver stabbed one of its personnel last Friday.
Citom Executive Officer Arnel Tancinco, though, said the board believes that not all of the 280 enforcers are responsible enough to carry firearms.
He said while there are those who legally possess guns, enforcers are trained to develop a non-confrontational mindset instead of preparing to apply force when imposing traffic rules.
Enforcers also need time to be properly trained in gun handling, safety, and shooting proficiency.
Licenses
City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, Citom board vice chairman, said he is more inclined in helping enforcers with guns to secure licenses to carry them outside their homes.
Jakosalem heads the council committee on energy, transportation, communication and other utilities.
As a long-term program, the City should arm those who do not have guns.
He said enforcers are vulnerable because aside from enforcing traffic laws, they inevitably respond to crimes, like robberies and snatching incidents.
Promotion
Just last April, the Cebu City Council recommended for promotion six enforcers for arresting a robbery suspect.
Though unarmed, the enforcers chased and collared the person, who tried to flee with 10 cell phones from a store at corner Juan Luna and M.J. Cuenco Avenues the month before.
In an interview yesterday, Jakosalem said that carrying a gun requires training and proper indoctrination on safety guidelines.
Knowing that there are abusive Citom personnel even though they are unarmed, the enforcers should go through a thorough process of training and evaluation, he said.
Weapons
Those who will not pass will be given non-lethal weapons, like tear gas, as another way of protecting them, he added.
Traffic enforcer Danilo dela Peña suffered stab wounds in the armpit and right side of the body after mini-bus driver Wenelito Tablada Esconas allegedly attacked him last Friday.
Esconas allegedly got angry after dela Peña issued him a citation for picking up passengers in a no-stopping area outside a local university on N. Bacalso Ave. (RHM)
