Police secure Inayawan property

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has set up a barricade around its property in Barangay Inayawan, and warned against trespassers.

The area is the proposed site of the Inayawan Police Station.

Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo earlier had his men dismantle the fence on the property.

“This land is a Government Property owned by the Philippine National Police (PNP), and shall be used solely for any infrastructure development project purposes of the organization. All unauthorized construction and illegal structures will be demolished. Unauthorized access to this land is strictly prohibited,” read the notice to the public the CCPO posted in the area.

Construction of the P5-million project was halted because the barangay wanted the police to use another lot.

The “idle” property was donated to the police in February 2017 by former village chief Lutherlee “Lotlot” Ignacio-Soon.

According to Repollo, the Barangay Council passed a resolution for its donation, but it did not include an authorization for Soon to sign the deed of donation.

In an earlier interview, Repollo said they were not against the construction of the police station. However, he said the barangay was using the lot as a parking area for the barangay’s vehicles, such as garbage trucks, a Kaohsiung bus, a coaster and minibus, among others.

Last Friday, March 8, police officers were seen setting up the signs in the area. They also cordoned it off with “police line do not cross” ribbons.

Last March 5, Repollo led the destruction of the fence on the 500-square-meter lot. He said it was a nuisance and a traffic hazard.

He said that as barangay captain, he had police powers and he had the right to demolish the fence.

The issue of the construction of the new police station returned to the fore following the anti-illegal drug operation in the area last March 3, when police arrested Elymar Ancajas and seized from him 18 kilos of shabu worth P122.4 million.

CCPO Director Royina Garma had said she was “a bit” disappointed that Repollo didn’t show up while they were conducting an inventory. As “father of the barangay,” he should have checked the situation, she said.