CCPO needs 300 more cops for the quincentennial fete

CEBU, Philippines — At least 300 police personnel from the Police Regional Office-7 have been requested by the Cebu City Police Office to complete the 700 police deployment for during the motorcade in line with the 500 Years Celebration of Christianity.

As the quincentennial celebration nears, Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of CCPO, said the security measures are already in place.

"Ang atoang pagpangandam sa quincentennial activity starting karong April 4 han-ay na. Sa atong scheduled activities duna lang tay usa ka adlaw nga nagkinahanglan ta og augmentation, kini atoang motorcade na nga gikan maggikan diri sa Cebu motuyok sa Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu," Parilla told reporters yesterday.

Parilla said they are already requesting for the additional 300 police personnel to fill up the 700 police augmentation.

"Considering nga wala na atong CRBn (Crisis Response Battalion) so we don't have standby force nga atong magamit," he said.

Aside from this, the police will be also monitoring private establishments who will be possibly holding cultural activities.

According to Parilla, they are coordinating with the security force of these establishments.

Parilla further said they haven't receive any directives yet to raise their alarm status in line with the celebration considering that police augmentations were already in for the COVID-19 responses.

"Kung atong tan-awon no nga bisan gamay ra atong activities daghan tang personnel nga nagbantay, this is also to ensure nga dili lang anti-criminality ang bantayan but to make it sure nga mapatuman jud nato atong minimum health standard," said Parilla.

He added that the law enforcers will be trying to prevent to further transmission of the virus through their strict monitoring on the crowd control during the celebration.

"Dili ta motugot nga mao na sad ni ang mahimong rason nga motaas nasad atong positive cases," said Parilla.

Previously, CCPO director, Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, said their daily critiques in line with the preparation have begun.

According to Ligan, they have already conducted a run-through on the route that has a travel estimate of 42 minutes to an hour. This will start from the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. —GMR (FREEMAN)