Cebu cops told: Shape up or ship out

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu’s police stations with poor performance are warned to shape up otherwise their officers would be relieved.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Abrugena, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO) director, made the stern warning after the relief of all cops from San Fernando and Daanbantayan municipal police stations.

Forty-one police officers, including the two police station chiefs, were booted out on January 12 by Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas over poor performance in the war against drugs. They were transferred to other units.

“This serves as a warning to all other police stations to shape up,” Abrugena said.

Based on CPPO’s records, Daanbantayan recovered only 2.65 grams of shabu with an estimated worth of P31,270 from December 2018 to January 2019, while San Fernando seized 30.67 grams or P361,906 worth of shabu in the same period.

The two municipal stations fell behind other police stations in terms of illegal drug accomplishments.

The top performer is Talisay City Police Station with P21,612,341 worth of seized shabu, followed by Carcar City Police Station (P1,711, 292), Consolacion Police Station (P1,711, 292), and Toledo City Police Station (P6,216,506).

Those with low or poor performance were Tudela Police Station with P1,188 worth of confiscated shabu, Ginatilan Police Station with P4,956, Poro Police Station with P6,245, and Boljoon Police Station with P17,110.

Lady cops

On the other hand, four lady cops will lead for the first time the police stations in the cities of Danao, Carcar, Toledo and Bogo.

They are Superintendent Maribel Getigan who will assume as Danao police chief, Superintendent Janette Rafter (Toledo City), Superintendent Emelie Santos (Bogo City), and Supt. Clarise Gabutan (Carcar City).

The assignments will take effect today, January 16.

Getigan said it will be a challenging task since Danao City is one of the best performing city police stations of CPPO.

Rafter, a mother of two, said it is part of her duty to be away from her loved ones.

“That’s normal in our profession, service,” she said. Toledo City is at least two-hour drive from Cebu City.

Sinas earlier said it is time for lady cops to show their capabilities.

Abrugena, for his part, said this proves that there is no discrimination in the police force.

“It is high time to give equal opportunity for lady police officers. Definitely, there’s no discrimination against women in the workplace,” he said. (FREEMAN)