FOURTEEN police outposts will be built in Mandaue City to increase visibility and decrease response time when incidents happen.
Mayor Jonas Cortes made the revelation when Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) officials paid their New Year’s courtesy call on him last Jan. 7, 2020.
The MCPO leadership welcomed the mayor’s plan, saying it could help in the fight against criminality.
In a separate interview, MCPO information officer Major Mercy Villaro said they will study the crime statistics in the city and they will suggest to the mayor to construct the outposts in areas where the crime rate is high.
The outposts, said Cortes, will be smaller than the regular police station. But each outpost will have its own bathroom, assistance desk, base radio communication system and air conditioning units.
Cortes, however, said the City will build the outposts one at a time as his office will prioritize the purchase of 22 sports utility vehicles, 22 motorcycles and 240 handheld radio units for the MCPO.
The local executive asked the MCPO to deploy at least two police officers, one from its traffic unit, to the street where a traffic incident occurs.
Cortes said police officers can help prevent traffic gridlocks.
Villaro told SunStar Cebu that the MCPO has three existing outposts under the flyover in Barangay Subangdaku, near the J Centre Mall and under the flyover in Barangay Maguikay. These are manned by police and traffic personnel.
As the MCPO has limited personnel, Villaro said there are times when the outposts are empty as the personnel have other tasks like conducting patrols or manning checkpoints.
Villaro said barangay tanods also station themselves in the outposts when police are not around. (KFD)