AC units in cop cars disabled
Policemen who think they can steal a nap while in their air-conditioned patrol cars can now forget about doing so.
This after the Cebu City Police Office disabled the airconditioning units of their patrol cars to make sure that police don’t doze off during patrols.
The order came by CCPO director Senior Superintendent Royina Garma following an order from the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, according to Superintendent Artemio Ricabo, the Deputy City Director for Administration.
Ricabo said that the PNP headquarters got a report that a concerned citizen saw a discreetly-parked patrol car with policemen sleeping inside.
“Nakit-an man gud sila nga natulog, although it was not clearly emphasized in the memo that we received from Crame, Senior Superintendent Royina Garma had to issue a directive para ma-aksyonan,” Ricabo said.
CCPO Operations Branch chief, Chief Inspector Wilbert Parilla, said that the airconditioning units of all police cars from all 11 police stations, the Mobile Patrol Group, the Traffic Patrol Group, and even the Tourist Police Unit, have been disabled.
“All patrol cars wala’y labot ang Montero ug ang duha ka staff car sa headquarters, wala mi number basta every station usa lang ka mobile ang duna’y aircon, ang Montero lang, including MPG, traffic og tourist,” he said.
He was referring to the newly-donated Montero patrol cars turned over last February by the regional headquarters.
According to the Mobile Patrol Group chief, Superintendent David Señor, the air-conditioning in the nine patrol cars deployed to his unit were disabled last Saturday during the weekly inspection.
“Ten ni kabuok ang assigned sa mobile (patrol group) ang usa pabilin sa opisina nga wala gi-disable para sa hepe. Wala naman mi mabuhat about ana, nasakpan man daw, so we will adjust accordingly di man sad na problema,” he said.
Ricabo echoed his statement stating that this will serve as a lesson for policemen to be on full alert during working hours, saying that PNP Director Oscar Albayalde always emphasized the importance of proper conduct during working hours.
Clydyl L. Avila/BRP