A CITY police official said the transfer of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) to its new headquarters is being delayed by the lack of power and water connections of the new building.
The construction of a new 1,000 square meters Cocpo building in Barangay 40 had been finished in 2013 but water and power have yet to be connected.
Cocpo spokesperson Mardy Hortillosa II said the police had already requested the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao and the City Council for logistical support like equipment and supplies, including power and water connection.
But Hortillosa said none of the requests have been granted.
Based on the May 2015 joint ocular inspection conducted by Cocpo and City Hall, the water and electrical connection cost nearly P600,000 excluding nearly P2 million worth of equipment and supplies to make the new building completely operational.
City Council’s Police Committee Chairman Romeo Calizo said the previous council may have overlooked or failed to take action on the long-overdue transfer.
He said Senior Superintendent Robert Roy Bahian sent a letter on Monday, March 20, asking support so that Cocpo can move to its new facility.
Calizo said he will check from the PRO whether the appropriation for the new Cocpo building was included in the Maintenance and other operating expenses so that he could recommend financial counterpart to the City Council.
“If the police do not have sufficient funds, we'll see to it that the City Government can provide a complimentary amount,” Calizo said.
Calizo said he will push for the inclusion of the financial counterpart of the City Government once the City Council committee on finance and appropriation asks for supplementary budget cycle.
He vowed to support Cocpo particularly on mobility as he envisioned a more upgraded, well respected, and well-equipped modern day police.
“We are bragging that we will become the next metropolis. This should be reflected in, the quality of our police,” Calizo said.
The construction of the P20 million new Cocpo building near the City Health Office started through the joint effort of the police and the administration of erstwhile City Mayor Vicente Emano.
Once the 2,974 square meters Maharlika headquarters is slated to be used as a camp of the City Public Safety Company once the transfer to Barnagay 40 is complete.
Hortillosa said Cocpo is just waiting for the City Government and PRO to turn-over the new facility.