Not all Lapu-Lapu enforcers to get bullet-proof vests

CEBU, Philippines - Providing bullet-proof vests to the members of the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management Systems (CTMS) will be implemented on a case-to-case basis, said acting mayor Marcial Ycong.

He said they need to assess the impact of the move to the efficiency and productivity of the traffic enforcers because bullet-proof vests are heavy.

“Pero ilaha na isul-ob, everytime mag-duty sila, kuan (limited) kaayo sila sa ilahang move,” he said.

There are around 90 personnel in CTMS, including those assigned in pay-parking areas and in their headquarters located in Barangay Poblacion.

CTMS officer-in-charge Mario Napule recently requested Ycong about providing them with bullet-proof vests, following the shooting incident that killed Raquel Bensi last month.

The death of Bensi sparked fear among other personnel of CTMS, according to Napule.

He also said that some CTMS personnel already received death threats from unidentified persons.

The bullet proof vests might be distributed to those personnel assigned in areas where traffic is heavy, like the road from Barangay Basak to Barangay Marigondon, which are considered “danger zones.”

“Naa man gud diha ang MEPZ 2, MEPZ 3 ug padung (Gaisano) Grand Mall,” he said.

The Mactan Economic Processing Zone 2 is also known as Tamiya, while MEPZ 3 is the Cebu Light Industry Park or CLIP.  Both MEPZ 2 and MEPZ 3 have thousands of production workers.

Ycong added that if they can identify as to how many enforcers received death threats, they will provide them with bullet-proofs, too.

“Most probably, for protection lang,” he said.

Ycong said he will set up a meeting with Napule about the matter. (FREEMAN)