Cocpo needs more police volunteers

IN an effort to curb criminality, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) is intensifying its recruitment program to have more `police visibility’ and `foot patrol’ in the locality.

Cocpo spokesperson Mardy Hortillosa II said the proposed community police patrol project—which seeks to recruit more police volunteers--is in response to the call to revive the `Operation Kahusay ug Kalinaw (OKK)’ in downtown Divisoria.

These volunteers, Hortillosa said, are committed to lend their personal vehicles to assist law enforcers.

“Mao ni sila volunteers nga mopahulam sa ilang sakyanan, gasolina aron makatabang sa kapolisan,” Hortillosa said.

Hortillosa said at least three non-government organizations--the Macajalar Eagles Club, Communication Link for Emergency Assistance Network Inc. (Clean) and Amateur and Civic Radio Clubs in Northern Mindanao (ACRC)-have volunteered to enrol their members to become part of the endeavor.

The groups have undergone basic orientation on police protocol, selfdefense, arresting and hand cuffing technique, among others, over the weekend.

“Gi-orient sila unsay dapat buhaton kung magresponde ug if first responders sila,” Hortillosa said.

After the orientation, the group will be made to submit list of volunteers who will be subjected for profiling and background checking to ensure they do not have derogatory records and are qualified to become police buddies.

Hortillosa emphasized that these volunteers are unarmed and their job is limited only to mere patrolling.

However, they will be accompanied by two uniformed policemen in doing their task.

“Dili sila pwede magengage gawas kung i-summon sila sa police or kung delikado na gyud kaayo. Dili sila pwede mo-aresto

pero depende kay naa pud qualification sa gitawag nga citizen arrest,” Hortillosa said.

Once the volunteers are identified after the process, a memorandum of understanding will be signed and launching will follow which will all be held at the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) headquarters in Camp Alagar, Lapasan this city.

“Kung mag-prosper ni ug maayo ang dagan, pwede na ta mokuha og dugang volunteers,” Hortillosa added.