Bucao tells police chief: "Inform us of your operations"

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Vice Mayor and Public Safety Committee Chairman Alan Bucao calls on Chief Inspector Eddie Recamara, officer-in-charge of the Talisay City Police Station, to give the council the right to know of police operations so they could help combat the city’s problems.

Bucao pointed out that former Talisay City chief superintendent Henry Biñas would always inform the council about their operations whatever the results were.

“Kaniadto magpadala na siya og text message regarding sa operation pero karon sa mga balita na lang mi makahibawo kung unsa nay nahitabo sa siyudad,” Bucao said. (The police chief used to inform us but now, we only learn from the media about what’s happening in the city.)

He urged Recamara to give them information so the council could pass the necessary ordinances.

Recamara, who is on leave, apologized to Bucao. He said he was in a hurry to catch his trip for Dipolog City after the operation that evening.

The police had raided an internet café in barangay Tabunok last Friday. The caretaker was arrested and three women were rescued.

Bucao, chairman of the committee on public safety, police, penology and transportation, hopes Recamara would let the council know of their next operations.

“As a leader you should be well informed, kung wala siya’y salig sa vice-mayor bisan lang og ngadto siya mosulti sa ubang sakop sa konseho nga iyang masaligan,” Bucao said. (If he does not trust the vice mayor, he can go to the council members.)

The report of the operation is set to be handed today by Senior Inspector Errol Francis Deveyra, deputy chief, to the city council.

The women rescued during the operation were allegedly posing nude in front of a web camera inside a cubicle with curtains used as partitions.

The victims admitted that they were paid $100 per session by their foreign clients.

The victims are now under the custody of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Talisay City Police.

The police are still checking existing city ordinances if internet cafés are allowed to have private rooms and other related matters before filing appropriate charges against Erwin Mercado, the owner, and Clifford Caballero, the café’s attendant who are jailed at the Talisay City police stockade. — (FREEMAN)