Cops to monitor villages surrounding sports center

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will monitor the barangays surrounding the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) after six male students, two of them minors, were taken into police custody for using marijuana.

"Hopefully makuha natin ang source.  Kung titingnan kasi natin, they have easy access considering marijuana is nasa mountain barangay," said CCPO Director Joel Doria.

He said that as cops are outnumbered to detail an officer in each educational institution, it would be effective if security of educational institutions would thoroughly check on the bags of the students.

"Especially yang security details, they should check thoroughly yong gamit ng mga estudyante na pumapasok," he said.

He said the Police Community Relations Office would also plan to distribute flyers and conduct seminar to students.

"Papaikutin natin sila and also mamimigay din ng flyers and safety tips, para maiwasan ang ganyan. I hope they cooperate on information dissemination," he said.

Meanwhile, Police Senior Superintendent Manuel Abrugena said that they are also intensifying police security in areas near to school in the whole Cebu province

Abrugena said that his directive to all of the station chiefs in Cebu province was to continue the security given to all public and private schools after Brigada Eskwela and opening of classes.

"Tulad ng sinabi ko sa ating kapulisan na hindi lang dapat sa pagbubukas ng klase ang pagbibigay natin ng tutok sa mga schools natin. May mga itinalaga naman tayong mga responsible police officers na siya’ng tututok at magmonitor ng mga nangyayri sa bawat eskwelahan," said Abrugena.

Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) Chief Carmen Ivy Remedios Meca, for her part, reiterated the importance of drug education in the schools.

"The importance of education on drug prevention and the conduct of random drug testing for teachers, non-teaching staff as well as to secondary and tertiary students. It would be very effective in terms of prevention," she remarked.

She added that she is set to meet with representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd) this month for a proposed school-based drug prevention project.

"I really do hope so in coordination with the department meeting with the regional director of DepEd-7 as well as for Ched this coming June 22 so I hope this meeting will be successful towards our education prevention programs from the DepEd," she continued.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the arrest of six students caught in a pot session is not alarming.

"It's not alarming actually, there's more than six of that but we should not make it acceptable. It's always been there, it's just that they are caught this time," Osmeña told reporters.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairman on public order and safety, said there's nothing to be frightened about the matter.

He said it is normal that after the opening of classes, this type of incident occurs.

However, Tumulak is requesting the cops to be visible in public places, specifically in schools so that any illegal activities will be prevented.

DepEd-Cebu City Assistant School Division Superintendent Dr. Danilo Gudelosao said they will strengthen their education campaign against illegal drugs so that the students will be informed about its harmful effects.

"Dili man nuon alarming pro dili lang ta mokompiyansa," he said.—  Mae Clydyl L. Avila, Lorraine Mitzi A. Ambrad, Odessa O. Leyson/GAN  (FREEMAN)