CEBU Governor Pamela Baricuatro has issued a warning to individuals and groups involved in criminal activities: “Leave Cebu or face the full force of the law.”
In a Facebook post on Sunday, July 6, Cebu’s new governor warned that her administration will not stand for such conduct. She said authorities will act swiftly to eradicate criminal enterprises.
“Leave Cebu or face the full force of the law. This province is for honest, hardworking citizens. We will not tolerate any form of crime or corruption,” said Baricuatro.
On Monday, July 7, Baricuatro reiterated the warning in a press conference at the Governor’s Office as she expressed outrage over recent reports of drug-related activities and organized crime.
Baricuatro said she was “pissed” upon reviewing an internal crime report detailing various forms of exploitation and criminal activities in the province, such as rape.
“I was pissed looking into these confidential reports about the crime situation here in the province of Cebu,” said Baricuatro in a mix of Cebuano and English.
She said the incidents were mostly drug-related.
“I’m simply asking that if anyone has bad intentions here in the province of Cebu, do not operate here,” she said adding that she will not allow anyone to degrade the people of Cebu.
She said continued illegal activities could hinder Cebu’s economic growth.
Earlier on Monday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government Central Visayas (DILG 7) and its attached agencies paid a courtesy call on Baricuatro to discuss ways to strengthen peace and order in the province.
Baricuatro did not disclose specific details of the DILG confidential report but assured that measures were already in place to manage the crime situation.
“We really have a problem but it’s just manageable.” she said.
In a separate interview, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Acting Director Col. Jovito Atanacio pledged to crack down on crimes.
“We, the police, are no longer just observing—we are closely monitoring them. We are now taking firm action to ensure that anyone planning to commit a crime will think twice, because we are watching them constantly,” Atanacio said. / via John Mart Mabalhin, VSU Intern.