Friday, August 31, 2007 Cortes needs site for police stations
HALF of Mandaue City’s police stations are “squatting” inside barangay halls, but Mayor Jonas Cortes is already looking for ways to address this problem.
Police Station 2 officials were already told to vacate the Subangdaku Barangay Hall, said Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Alexander Abadinas during last Wednesday’s Kapihan sa PIA (Public Information Agency).
“Then we will look for another barangay to accommodate them,” was the mayor’s reaction.
He is eyeing Barangays Bakilid, Tipolo or Guizo for the transfer of the police station if Subangdaku Barangay Captain Walter Dy insists on having the building back.
Driving the police station out of the barangay hall is like driving the police away, said Cortes, as he urged other community leaders to give Abadinas a chance.
Of the city’s six police stations, three, including Station 2, are occupying barangay halls.
Police Stations 3 and 4 are occupying the Basak and Casuntingan barangay halls, respectively.
Each police station handles four to five barangays of the 27 barangays in Mandaue City.
Cortes said he already talked to Basak Barangay Captain Marcelino “Mick” Alivio and he has no problem in that area so far.
For his part, Alivio said the PNP should consult barangay captains during the relief and appointment of station chief since these barangays accommodate these stations.
When asked if they don’t mind housing Police Station 4 in their barangay hall, Casuntingan Barangay Captain Benjamin Basiga said it is up to his barangay councilors.
But he has not received any negative feedback from them so far.
Deputy MCPO Director Emmanuel Ughoc confirmed Dy’s intention to take back the space occupied by Station 2 once its chief, Senior Insp. Eddie Castañeda is relieved.
Castañeda’s deputy Joel Abuan is now acting station commander.
Dy is out of town when Sun.Star Cebu called up the barangay hall yesterday for his reaction.
As the City Government resolves the problem of mobility in its police force, the problem of accommodation now crops up.
Abadinas said reshuffling his officials is part of their professional growth. He said that a station commander cannot remain in his post forever as he has to move up.
Alivio, for his part, is not against the PNP’s professional growth. All he wants is that they should have been consulted before they designate a new commander.
“Papilion unta ‘mi kay kami may tag-iya sa building (We should be allowed to choose because we own the building),” he said.
He said this is how things are being done when PNP officials designate a new police chief, the mayor is consulted.
Had he been consulted earlier Alivio would rather have former police chief Sigfred Toribio than the new chief, Senior Insp. Oscar Monterroyo.
But since their designation is already final and approved by the mayor, the barangay officials will have their new chief under observation.
Cortes admitted that some barangay officials become attached to their police chiefs for a few years they work together.
But it’s the police director’s decision to reshuffle his men when time comes.
The mayor also recognized the two year limit given to station commanders to hold on to their post, as they become less effective if they stay longer. (OCP)
