92 police personnel temporarily deployed to provide security in the city

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 23): 92 police personnel temporarily deployed to provide security in the city

COTABATO CITY – To strengthen peace and security measures in the city, the Philippine Regional  Office  (PRO) 12 has deployed some 92 policemen from the Regional Public Safety Battalion and Regional Headquarter's Service Group to Cotabato  City  recenty.

According to City Police Director PSSupt Rex Anongos, this number is not enough to address the shortage of the present number of police force but still a big help in the intensified implementation of security plan here.

“These policemen will be here temporarily. They are an augmentation team sent by the regional office to the municipalities, cities and provinces that celebrate major activities to ensure the safety of the people in the area. For now, there are no scheduled activities to be conducted so they will be here for the meantime,” Anongos said.

Based on the data of the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO), there are only 267 police personnel presently serving the increasing population of the city.

He said, out of 92, five of them are officials.

“They will oversee and supervise the implementation of peace and security here as one of the precautionary measures and at the same time to prevent any commission of criminal activities,” the official said.

On September 18, the newly arrived police forces started their duties wherein some of them are assigned to conduct check points in entrance and exit points.

He added, “I don’t know until when these men will be here but I’m hoping that they will stay here for so many days to assist our 267 policemen especially so that some new department stores are set to open anytime soon.”

In terms of mobility, Anongos said the PNP is doing its best to provide mobile patrols aside from the issued police vehicles to the stations for them to easily respond to the reported incidents, Anongos said.

Meanwhile, City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. expressed his heartfelt gratitdue to PRO-12 Regional Director Lester Camba   for sending these policemen here even on a temporary basis.

“Hopefully, these number will increase because we know for a fact that Cotabato City has so many entrance and exits that lawless groups used to commit any crime here,” Guiani said.

Guiani mentioned that the local government and CCPO are planning to establish another one police station here as an additional to the four (4) existing police stations.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1661442991796/92-police-personnel-temporarily-deployed-to-provide-security-in-the-city