PRO-7 pleases annual general inspection team
Official says the police regional office qualifies to become best nationwide
THE Police Regional Office (PRO-7) can become a contender for the search for the Best Police Regional Office nationwide.
Chief Supt. Sonny Cunanan, the team leader of the Annual General Inspection (AGI), said that despite of the minor demerits, PRO-7 was able to perform well during the week-long Operational, Readiness, Security Inspection and Test Evaluation.
Cunanan said problems faced by PRO-7 are also being experienced by other regional offices in the country, especially on the lack of firearms.
It was noted that 677 policemen in Cebu Province have not been issued firearms and 43 police stations occupy on the lots not owned by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In Cebu City, most of the police units are occupying dilapidated buildings, which are fire hazards.
Police station 1 in Centro Mandaue is also in dilapidated condition, while the police station 5 has to be evicted because it is situated on a creek.
But these demerits did not apply to other police stations.
Five police stations in Cebu City were built on the lots donated to the PNP through the Adopt-A-Police station program, such as the Fuente, Parian, Mabolo, Waterfront and Sawang Calero police stations.
In Mandaue City, two police stations have comfort rooms inside their detention cell.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), headed by Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., has noted numerous best practices.
These include the expanded night watch patrol, the activation of Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), personality enhancement and media relation, police reservist, monthly hostage situation rehearsal, police olympics and synchronized checkpoint.
Cebu province is also number 1 in Government Performance System.
In Cebu City, the AGI team noted best practices, such as the creation of motor-cops riding unit, Police-MIND (Media Interaction Day), Movements Against Drug (MAD rally) and Papa Lab program. /CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON
