The recent data which showed that the crime volume in the city had doubled up in 2010 compared to the preceding year did not escape the attention of the city lawmakers.
During the session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tagbilaran last Friday ,which was presided by Councilor Edgar Bompat, city councilor Anne Mariquit Oppus, raised a motion for the city legislators to do something in helping the provincial government in its drive and efforts at decreasing the crime volume in the entire province as the city is the number one contributor of the such crime volume data.
Data shows that the crime volume in Tagbilaran City doubled to 1,318 in 2010 from only 663 in 2009.
Oppus pointed out that the city chief of police, including the chiefs of LTO and High Way Patrol Group will be invited in the SP's session on February 4, 2011 in order to get their reports from their respective ends.
The purpose of the invitation is to let the city PNP chief present the data regarding to the crime solution of the city police as the maverick legislator believed that it's very important for them to be informed in order for them to legislate laws wherein the city can extend assistance.
LTO chief Joel Maloloy-on will also be invited during the session in order to hear from him the explanation behind motorcycles without plate numbers which were usually used in perpetrating crimes in the city. It would be timely for the city legislators to identify what legislation they will pass in order to support and render assistance towards the solutions to the emerging problem.
On his part, the chief of the High Way Patrol Group will also be invited in order to hear from him some proactive measures that the city can do in order to avoid bigger crimes crimes such as car napping and high jacking.
Oppus believed that it is better to do important proactive steps as Bohol is one of the tourist destinations in the country.
"We have to act before we will be hit by some national issues like car napping and high jacking", Oppus stressed.
The motion of Councilor Oppus received no opposition as it was immediately referred to the committee as a whole, thereby setting the date on February 4, 2011.
In an interview by the Chronicle, Oppus said that the city should not be silent on certain important issues like the high prices of fish and the high crime volume as the provincial government is waging an all out solution for these problems.
It may be recalled that during the height of the problems on the high prices of fish, it was also Councilor Oppus who raised the motion for the city legislators to do some investigation. The matter is now currently referred to the committee on agriculture which is chaired by Councilor Genesyl Balbin.
It may also be recalled that the common perennial excuse of the Lim Administration over the high crime volume in the city is the fact that Tagbilaran is developing and so, naturally, city crime rate will also climb up.
Oppus said that it may be true that the city is developing; however, the councilor said that the issue of high crime volume, doubling up for that matter, does not necessarily follow as a conseuqence of a developing city and it would be "illogical" to conclude such thing.
Oppus added that the city task force and the Purok Tanods are designed to somehow prevent criminalities and supplement the police force. She did not understand, however therefore, as to why the crime volume increased to double figures.
"That's the main reason why we supported the program on the creation of city task force and purok tanods, for them to act as multipliers of peace and order. We cannot jut say that our police are outnumbered because we do something to help them", Oppus stressed.
Oppus added that the role of the police in crime solution efficiency is very vital. It would help the people to speak out in order to help in solving crimes. Oppus cited that people before do not come out in the open to divulge crime to the police such as rape.
However, the situation now is different as the residents already report to the police on those crimes that they previously were afraid to report.
Oppus believed that the city PNP must enhance and develop crime solution efficiency as it would practically help solving crimes in the city.
Oppus hopes that the city hall will not continue to be numbed over the alarming issues of crimes in the city.
"I also urged those who are experts on these matters to come out and share insights as this is for the good of everybody", Oppus concluded. (Anthony Ranoa Aniscal)
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