Thursday, October 12, 2006 Citom OKs arming enforcers
THE Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) board yesterday agreed to the arming of its traffic enforcers.
But it will be a long process and may take six to 12 months before an enforcer is ready to handle a gun, after a series of tests designed to prove his competence, said Citom board presiding officer Rogelio “Jingjing” Osmeña.
Osmeña brought up the topic in the board’s weekly meeting yesterday.
And not one among the members, who include police and transportation officials, objected when they discussed the guidelines and procedures in arming the enforcers, said City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem.
Reward
Last Friday, a driver stabbed an enforcer who ordered him to move out of a no-stopping zone and issued a ticket for the violation.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña has offered to give P50,000 as reward for those who can arrest the driver.
In press conference last Monday, he agreed to provide firearms to traffic enforcers, but only if they pass a series of tests.
The mayor said those who will qualify to carry firearms will be assigned to strategic places such as high-risk and crime-prone areas in the city.
Jakosalem, Council committee on energy, transportation communication, and other utilities chairman, said half of the 280 enforcers will get guns.
That way, every critical intersection will have at least one enforcer with a gun.
The plan, however, still has to be allocated with funds. Jakosalem prefers to give .38 revolvers to the enforcers.
Jingjing, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 chairman, said that aside from the lack of budget, Citom has to find out who among the enforcers like to handle guns and performed well in their duties.
Psychiatric exam
They must also pass a psychiatric exam, and do well in gun safety seminar and firing proficiency exam.
“It’s not going to easy. It would take six months to one year,” he said.
Jakosalem also said that those who do not qualify to carry a gun will be given non-lethal weapons like teargas for their protection.
In an earlier interview, Citom Executive Officer Arnel Tancinco said that there are already enforcers who legally own guns, and added he received reports that there were those who carry unlicensed firearms.
He advised enforcers who illegally own guns to secure the necessary permits, otherwise they run the risk of being arrested. (RHM)
