CEBU CITY -- Security cameras and motorcycle-riding Swat teams are being planned for Cebu City's streets, in response to a robbery last Monday that killed five persons.
The Cebu City Government will install 50 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in 50 intersections of the city to prevent crimes and monitor traffic and vehicular accidents, among others.
The project is estimated to cost the city at least P17.5 million, with each camera costing P350,000.
Eugene Elizalde, Mayor Michael Rama's representative in the city's Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC), said they are doing a study to identify the areas where the cameras will be strategically located.
The PCAC proposed the installation of high-end cameras, which got the mayor's nod, following the shootout at Robinsons Place in Fuente Osmeña last Monday, when four men robbed a bank teller on his way to deliver cash to a moneychanger. Three of the robbers and the teller's two security escorts were killed.
In a meeting with the Cebu Bankers' Club Thursday, Cebu City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe raised the idea of fielding elite Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) teams on motorcycles.
He said the club asked for greater police visibility.
On Monday, Buenafe said they will present to Mayor Rama their plan to deploy more mobile police teams.
"These motorcycle-moving Swat teams will be the first in Cebu," Buenafe said.
At large
The initial plan is to field 20 teams, with each team consisting of four operatives on two motorcycles.
This may be more effective in fighting crime because most suspects use motorcycles, the police chief observed.
The police are still searching for one suspect who escaped last Monday, Dionisio Cabatingan, who also goes by the name Junjun Cabando.
He was believed to have been shot in the buttocks, while his alleged colleagues were gunned down.
Police Chief Buenafe, in an interview, said he considers Police Officer (PO) 1 Elrich Jourdin Catacutan and PO1 Roy Ceniza an inspiration for other police operatives.
Catacutan was hit in the chest, while Ceniza was wounded in his leg when they went after the robbers last Monday. They were escorting a suspected thief to the Palace of Justice when they happened to pass by commotion the robbers caused near Fuente Osmeña.
Both policemen were awarded the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting (Wounded Personnel Medal) and received cash.
Bravery
Buenafe said the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas is now working on the promotions of both policemen.
"If all policemen are like these two men, then our city will be very peaceful. These two men depict how brave they are," said Buenafe.
Other police operatives suggested that PO1 Ernesto Silva Jr. should also be awarded.
Silva drove the patrol car that Ceniza and Catacutan was on.
He was not hit, but he was the one who called for backup using their UHF radio.
The heist has also called attention to the conditions of security guards, after two security escorts of the bank employee were shot dead.
One suggestion raised was to install surveillance cameras at intersections, to monitor not only traffic but also crimes.
Cebuano businessman Francis Dy and Engr. Sam Yan of the GKB Security, a Taiwan-based company, presented their proposed surveillance platform for the city.
Public
Dy said each camera in the intersections of the city has digital zooming and playback capability. It also contains a card that records all the streets incidents, which will be accessible to the command center and the general public, on the Internet.
However, the project needs additional funding, as the city only has an estimated ready fund of P13.5 million.
Under the city's P4.4-billion budget this year, Elizalde said a P10-million budget was included for an information technology (IT) enhancement project under the Office of the Mayor.
Aside from that, the city can tap the P3.5-million surplus from the P21-million budget appropriated for the purchase of 40 CCTV cameras at the City Treasurer’s Office.
Once the project is implemented, Elizalde said they plan to extend the installation of CCTV cameras to the mountain villages.
City Traffic Operations Management executive director Rafael Yap said the City has about 200 intersections. (PDF/JBT/Sun.Star Cebu)
