Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Lapu CH allots P1.5million for new police unit
AFTER the National Police Commission (Napolcom) approved the change of Lapu-Lapu City Police Station’s status into a police office last Oct. 5, it is now up to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 to issue an order implementing the conversion.
But while waiting for the implementing order, the City Government approved the allocation of P1.5 million for the construction of a new police precinct in Barangay Poblacion and a donation of two Toyota Innova police cars.
City Police Chief Louie Oppus said the first brand new Innova will arrive early next month, while the other one will come next year.
“We are getting big support from the City as we prepare for our elevation into a police office. We need to improve our communications equipment and mobility because being a police office, we will have a heavy responsibility being under the direct administrative and operational control of the regional office,” he said.
Twenty police cars and 25 motorcycles are serving the police stations and its five police precincts, including the one in Olango Island.
Lack of firearms and communications equipment is expected to be resolved as soon as the police station is upgraded.
Supt. Oppus said when he gets the assignment of more policemen from the regional office he will set up a police station in Barangay Babag because the place is far from Barangay Poblacion and needs to be monitored because of its thriving firecracker industry.
He said in a highly urbanized city, population ratio for one policeman should be 500 individuals, but currently a policeman is in charge of 2,038 people.
“There is a big gap and this will widen with the 275,000 expected growth of our population this year,” he said.
Though Oppus holds a rank lower than what is required for a head of a police office, he was assured favor by Mayor Arturo Radaza.
Impressed by his performance in bringing down the crime in the city, Radaza had vowed to retain him as police chief.
“Trabaho lang ko. It is up to my superiors to decide what is best for me,” he said on his qualification. (AIV)
