CEBU City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma has asked the Cebu City Government to formally request from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for additional police personnel in the city.
After their disagreement over some issues, Mayor Tomas Osmeña finally met Garma and the police station chiefs on Thursday, March 7, to discuss the peace and order situation in the city and the preparations for the upcoming events.
Garma said that since Councilor Margarita Osmeña was also present during the meeting, she asked the latter to sponsor a resolution in the City Council to formally ask the PNP to add police personnel in the city and establish more police stations.
Considering the population and economic activities in the city, Garma said the ideal ratio should be one policeman to every 500 people.
“I think for Cebu City, it’s very ideal kasi even if we consider the population na 1.9 million, we also have to consider the economic activities, the presence nang mga transients working, studying in Cebu and the tourism. So these area the factors to consider in asking for additional police force for Cebu,” she said.
Garma said 1,000 additional police personnel will be enough for the city.
The police chief said that at present, a police officer serves 12 hours duty day, excluding court duties and other extensions when they need to file cases immediately after an arrest.
Aside from it, Garma also discussed with Osmeña along with other city officials other peace and order concerns in the city including their accomplishments on illegal drugs and the preparation for the May 2019 local and national elections.
Garma said the mayor just asked them to constantly update him on the cases they have been handling, involving those sensational cases.