Bohol prov’l tourist police cry for relief
CAMP DAGOHOY, Tagbilaran City – Bohol Tourist Police Unit (BTPU), the first ever created in the region, cried for help and called for the local government units concerned to pitch support for their upkeep and sustenance.
P/Insp Jojit Silay Mananquil, acting chief of the BTPU, disclosed this dire situation during the Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP), a monthly press conference with the local media practitioners here organized by Col. Constantino Barot Jr. in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) through Provincial Information Manager Rey Anthony Chiu.
In his power point presentation before the media, Mananquil pointed out that the BTPU “pray and hope†that LGUs concerned where they’re stationed would pitch support on their basic daily operational needs. The BTPU also prays that the LGUs would realize that what the unit is doing is valuable in promoting and keeping peace and order.
Mananquil also said that his unit lacks special skills training especially in scuba dive and swimming lessons in saving the lives of the visitors in tourist spots where accidents such as drowning may not be avoided.
He said his unit has already undergone a two-day training in First Aid Treatment and Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). But it may not be enough for the unit. In one marine incident, BTPU had successfully saved the drowning child somewhere in Dumaluan beach resort, Panglao, the premier tourist town.
Another need that the tourist police cry about is the assistance or provision of their boarding where they’re assigned because of what Mananquil called “insufficient barracks or quarters.†“This does not mean we are complaining, however, it would have been much better if the money for rent would have been sent to our loved ones who really care and prayed for us,†Mananquil lamented.
But despite these shortcomings, BTPU with 98 men detailed into 15 units in different tourist spots in Bohol, is committed and determined to carry out on its mission, Mananquil said.
Mananquil said Bohol is the first province to establish and institutionalized tourist police force some four or five years back considering that Bohol is one of the top tourist destinations in the country today. Other tourist places, like Boracay, followed, he said.
While the tourist police intensifies its campaign against all forms of illegal activities it also keeps track on other related programs. These include Tamang Bihis police, gun-free tourist destination, Bantay-Lakbay. It enforces its Police Integrated Patrol system (PIPS) for visibility, search and rescue and basic safety tips on traffic.
Fostering relations with the parents and community is part of their tasks and engaging in project tree-planting as part of President Aquino’s thrust in greening program. (RVO)
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