Talisay disaster officer hits SOCO over late response to crime scene

CEBU, Philippines — The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Talisay City has criticized the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) for a very slow response to crime incidents.

CDRRMO head Alvin Santillana aired his sentiments to Cebu Provincial Police Office director Sr. Supt. Manuel Abrugena during a meeting last week.

Santillana said that every time a crime is committed in Talisay City, SOCO operatives always come very late causing so much traffic problem to the city. Santillana asked Abrugena if it is possible to assign a team dedicated only to crime incidents in the south to hasten the response.

Abrugena said there is a team dedicated for south and another for the north. But he said it is also unavoidable that crimes happened at the same time resulting in delayed response.

Abrugena also clarified that the CPPO does not have operational and administrative control over the SOCO operatives because they are directly under the national headquarters. SOCO is a support unit independent from the local police. (FREEMAN)