CATBALOGAN, Samar
– The Catbalogan Police
Force received a brand new Delica Van to be used in its peace and
order program from Catbalogan Mayor Coefredo 'Tekwa' Uy recently.
This, according to
Chief of Police Carlos Vencio is an augmentation of existing two
Delica vans, one double cab, two 200CC motorcycles and two motorized
cabs; all used to maintain peace and order and plant policemen on
strategic posts. Vencio was however, unable to cite a situation in
which the police was able to apprehend criminals while crime is in
progress through the vehicles given.
Chief Vencio
acknowledged the full support of Mayor Uy through the provision of
motorized vehicles, the police counterpart is the fuel, the chief
added.
Similarly, Vencio
reported that Catbalogan these days is generally peaceful and that
crime volume in May was only 5 with 4 murders and one robbery. This
early in June, crime was recorded at four where one was an index crime
and three non-index crimes.
The chief also
reminded the public to be careful and vigilant.
"This will be their
contribution to our peace efforts," he said, "if they are careful!"
Crimes, he said are
likely to occur during merry-making months when more people are
intoxicated and are vulnerable to criminal acts.
He also cited that
most crimes happen during lean months, when rural folks have more
money to enjoy happy-happy.
The chief is calling
to the attention of Cell Phone (CP) owners not to use their CPs in
public, especially when they are alone and in dark alleys. He said
that CP holders must not be alone because company discourages CP
snatchers. They should always have company to discourage unscrupulous
elements, the cop added.
Though the Catbalogan
PNP official is satisfied with the LGUs attention, Vencio is still
yearning for additional men. Ideally, he said, Catbalogan should have
84 PNP elements to make good the ratio of 1 is to one thousand. The
town, based in the 2000 census has some 84,000 population but
presently, Catbalogan police force is only 44 with three police
officers.
