Anti-crime group offers help to secure Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Special Force Agent (PSFA), a newly-created anti-crime group in Cebu, has offered assistance to Cebu City to secure public areas such as terminals, ports, malls, and streets.

PSFA, composed of at least 150 professional members, was formed early this year to assist law enforcement agencies in securing public places.  Its office is located at Crown Regency Hotel in Barangay Guadalupe.

“Bago pa lang ang grupo just this 2017. Na-inspire ang grupo at lahat ay willing to help sa community. Mas maganda kung nasa grupo kasi mas madali yong response isang tawag mo lang nandiyan lahat ang grupo. As volunteers, we can help promote peace in the community,” Deputy Director Edith Maranan told reporters yesterday.

Maranan said the group can help police the city and provide crime-related information to the Philippine National Police.

The PSFA members paid a courtesy visit yesterday to Mayor Tomas Osmeña and expressed their intention to help the authorities in keeping the city safe.

Osmeña welcomed the initiative of the group.

“This is so important to have participation from the community in providing peace and order. Before we have so many active groups, for example, we have the parish security group. We are the city in whole Philippines that has a parish security group for every church,” he said.

The mayor said he will utilize the group by giving its members a task that will suit their expertise and interest so they can work effectively and efficiently.

“There are many ways…but lot of it should be based on their interest if they want to provide security in the churches or in the children why would I put them in traffic, di ba?” Osmeña said.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the City Council committee on public order and safety, earlier said the presence of more men in uniform in the public areas will help prevent petty crimes such as snatching and pickpocketing, among others. (FREEMAN)