THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has lauded a village official, four members of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) and a brotherhood organization for helping to curb criminality in the locality.
Awarded with a plaque were Puntod village councilor Rodel Zurita, traffic enforcers Arthuro Figuracion, Clefford Jumao-as, Robert Rex Dignos and Steve Kevin Balios.
The Delta Squad Guardians Crimebuster World Inc., were also feted during the flag raising rites at the Maharlika headquarters in Carmen on Monday, May 15.
Zurita arrested a certain Arnold Undag, a resident of Macabalan, this city, who was caught in the act sniffing a solvent.
A sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu," and an 11-inch kitchen knife were also seized from Undag.
The four traffic law enforcers were cited for responding a call for assistance which resulted to the arrest of a robbery suspect identified as Clifford Tolabing along Velez-JR Borja streets, last May 2.
A sachet of suspected shabu and an improvised ice pick were also confiscated from him.
The Guardians brotherhood earned the award for their efforts in the successful and peaceful observance of the Lenten season last April 13-14 at Malasag Eco Park.
"I acknowledged the bravery of our citizens," said Cocpo chief Senior Superintendent Robert Roy Bahian.
Bahian said the police may not be visible in all the corners of the city, paving the way for criminals to do unlawful actions, but individuals can apply the citizen's arrest which is embedded in the constitution.
Bahian said the police needs the support of the community since the police to people ratio in the city is a mind-boggling one to 1,350.
Bahian, however, reminds the public that though citizen's arrest is lawful, one should take extra caution especially when criminals are armed and dangerous.
"Dako ang tabang sa community sa maintenance sa peace and order ug ang individual pwede mo-arest pinaagi sa citizen's arrest kung kaya lang nga dili ma-endanger ang kinabuhi," Bahian said.
Bahian said citizen's arrest is the arrest made by a person without a warrant after seeing another person in flagrante delicto committing an offense.
The city police chief said there will be no legal impediments in the citizen's arrest since the person making the arrest will only be summoned by the court to stand as witness.
"Walay legal impediments sa citizen’s arrest kay ipatawag lang man ang nag-aresto aron mo-witness nga mao ni gihimo sa suspect nga iyang nakita on the act nga naghimo sa krimen," Bahian said.
Bahian said more personalities will receive recognition once the evaluation process from Cocpo's awards, placement and assignment committee is done.