THE director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) wants lawyers to accompany them and her operatives during police operations.
Police Col. Gemma Vinluan told members of the media on Friday, August 2, 2019, that she would push for the “Adopt a Police Station” program where in a designated lawyer would act as a 24/7 consultant during police operations.
“Actually, I paid a visit to Cebu City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul on Thursday. I just want to intensify the partnership of the police and the judiciary,” Vinluan said.
She said the guidance that these lawyers could give the police personnel is of great help in terms of avoiding "common mistakes" during police operations such as failing to file airtight cases due to limited legal knowledge and implementing proper practices during arrests involving minors, among others.
“I have tried when I was still in Camp Crame, we were accompanied by lawyers from International Justice Mission (IJM). We were properly guided.
Because sometimes, during unavoidable precarious instances, the police tend to forget this learning. We want to avoid that,” she said.
As of now, she has yet to discuss and open up the matter during the Cebu City Justice Zone Stakeholders’ Meeting on August 9, Friday. (WBS)