New Cebu police chief leads clean-up

CEBU CITY – A day after taking over as chief of the city police force, Sr. Supt. Royina Garma led a general clean-up at Camp Sotero Cabahug where the police headquarters is located.

The officers spent the day doing different chores, from arranging office equipment to collecting garbage.

Several illegal gambling machines which are to be presented as evidence during court hearings were stacked properly. Items that are no longer used were disposed of.

“It’s really different when you have a female boss. Cleanliness should be observed,” said a police officer as he picked up used toothpicks on a table in the homicide section.

Garma is the city’s first female police chief. She replaced Sr. Supt. Joel Doria.

“We have to give dignity to our office. Just like our houses, we have to keep it clean, remove those eyesores,” said Garma.

To give police personnel a more conducive working environment, Garma said they will start occupying the newly built station headquarters, a two-story building across from the old headquarters.

Garma said she is planning to maximize personnel.

The police force has about 300 officers, but Garma wants most of them to be deployed to police stations.

Garma also instructed the station’s offices to make an inventory of their equipment.

“I want to know what equipment we need. And those that can no longer be used will be disposed of,” she said.

Garma said under her leadership, the city police will focus on crime prevention.

“We will implement the city ordinances but we will be issuing warnings first. If it involves minors we will coordinate with their parents. But if these minors keep committing offenses and the parents are doing nothing about it, we will file charges against the parents,” said Garma.