Police: Barangays should heighten monitoring

CEBU, Philippines —  Police are calling for barangay officials of Cebu City to strengthen monitoring around their areas following the reports that some residents were not following quarantine guidelines when authorities are not around.

In a press briefing yesterday, Colonel Josefino Ligan, director of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), urged barangay officials to 'police' their own areas and to joint the cops in the 'rekorida.'

"Ang allowed sa city government na barangay tanod is only 20,kay ang barangay officials ug barangay tanod, they are the primary one concerning anang ilang area, dili man ta 24/7 nga naay police dira sa kada lugar gyud," said Ligan.

Pictures posted on social media showed several people gathering in Barangay Tejero during the patrol conducted by personnel of the Special Action Force (SAF). Ligan said they are identifying if barangay officials were among those captured in the photo.

Because of this, Ligan said the station commander has come up with one entry and one exit points in the barangay.

"Inig tawag naay gapundok diri, inig abot sa police, manghawa, so cat and mouse kaayo, so it is incumbent of the barangay officials to discipline their men with the help of the police of course," said Ligan.

He further said that should barangay officials request for police, they will directly answer.

He appealed to the city government to come up with an ordinance that gives barangay tanods and officials authority to arrest quarantine protocol violators.

"Siguro we will introduce or suggest to the City Council, to come up with an ordinance, to include in one of the section sa city ordinance nga empowered sila to make an arrest, hopefully naa nay ingon ana,para mas nindot pud," he added.   LPM (FREEMAN)