CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Police Officer (CCPO) director Melvin Ramon Buenafe is very happy with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s proposal to revive a foundation that provides financial assistance to policemen who are killed in line of duty.
The revival of the Cebu Police Welfare Foundation Inc. was discussed during the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) yesterday.
Eugene Elizalde, presiding officer of PCAC, said that it is the wish of the mayor to revive such group to help the family of Cebu’s brave policemen who risked their lives to protect the people and maintain peace and order in Cebu.
The Cebu Police Welfare Foundation Inc. was established in the late 1980s by a group of businessmen in Cebu. It was led by American Citizen Darrell Conine who was with the then Cebu Plaza Hotel.
The group’s main objective is to render assistance, financial, moral or otherwise to the immediate members of the family of policemen in Metro Cebu killed, injured or maimed in line of duty.
To recall, two policemen were wounded last week in a botched robbery near the Fuente Osmeña Circle.
Elizalde added that it is another way to boost the morale of policemen and make them feel secure knowing that a group is willing to take care of their family if something wrong happens to them while performing their duties.
They are still in the stage of reviewing the composition and purpose of the organization for possible recommendations because the mayor wants to expand the membership and coverage of the assistance to policemen.
The group was allowed to receive donations and borrow money to achieve their goals.
Under the Articles of Incorporation of the CPWFI, it is also their aim to establish and maintain an orphanage for the benefit of the children of deceased policemen.
They also aim to “establish and maintain a scholarship program for deserving children of the policeman killed in line of duty.”
With barely enough benefits in a very hazardous kind of work, the Cebu City police director considers the city’s initiative as a way to further entice police personnel in seriously and diligently doing their work for the community.
“There are times na mabutang gyud sa piligro ang kinabuhi sa usa ka police, maayo na gali kay naa ni nga proposal sa syudad…,” Buenafe said.
He admits that the Philippine National Police has no established group that would aid fallen police personnel.
“Usually sa amo, wala pang established (group) to help police…that is why we are very welcome to this (foundation) kay kinahanglan gyud na,” he said.
If revived, Buenafe hopes that the federation will also assist them in other needs in line with their work.
He said that policemen also sacrifice more than their lives to foster peace and order in the community, aside from the usual risks they have on a daily basis. – (FREEMAN)