For more cops, meds: Mayor Rama seeking Senator Bong Go’s help

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has requested Senator Bong Go to facilitate their request for augmentation of personnel from the Philippine National Police(PNP), as well as basic medicines for the Cebuanos as the city deals with another surge of COVID-19.

Rama, in a press conference yesterday, asked for updates on his request from Go, who is the chairman of the committee on health in the Senate.

Rama already expressed his request for augmentation earlier to the Cebu City Police Office and Police Regional Office-7, but he said he wants such request to be acted upon as soon as possible since more police visibility is needed amid the spike in cases.

At least 148 protocol violators were apprehended by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) during the Oplan Bulabog operation Saturday.

Police Lt. Colonel Alan Rosario, officer-in-charge of the Police Community Relations, said at least 18 of these violators were minors.

Some 92 individuals apprehended for violating curfew ordinance while 22 were apprehended for not wearing facemask.

"Pinasok natin lahat, pati nga iskina, yung kaloob-looban talaga ng every barangay pinasok natin," said Rosario.

According to Rosario, the slight increase in the number of violators apprehended could be because of the heightened police visibility and intensified security monitoring, particularly the Oplan Bulabog.

"Dahil na rin hindi na lang sa mga main kundi pati mga kasuluk-sulokan ay pinasok na rin natin para masiguro natin na na implement ang city ordinances in relation sa COVID-19 situation sa Cebu City," said Rosario.

Aside from this, the celebration of the Fiesta Señor was also seen as a factor to the rise in protocol violators apprehended since many in Cebu City are devotees of the Santo Niño.

"Yun rin ang isa sa nag-attribute kung bakit maraming nahuli na nasa labas," said Rosario.

He, however, added that no major untoward incident happened all throughout the celebration.

On the same Saturday night, CCPO cops also inspected at least 240 establishments to make sure that owners were following the health guidelines, particularly on the prohibition of unvaccinated individuals from dining in.

Rosario said they have not been able to account for any establishments that violated these guidelines during their series of inspections.

Further, Rosario said they are appealing anew to the public that the existing guidelines imposed are still in effect and that they should follow the rules.

"Kung wala ka rin lang naman importanteng lakad sa labad ay mag stay nalang sa bahay,” he said.

Rama, for his part, has also called on private entities to lend container vans that may be utilized as temporary detention cells to avoid crowding jails at police stations.

Medicines

The mayor also requested Go if the latter could help them out with the supply of medicines here, especially paracetamol, as well as those for cough and colds, as most pharmacies are already running out of supply.

Rama told Go that they will be giving out the basic medicines per household, with those in the oppressed areas as top priority. — Iris Hazel M. Mascardo with Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)