Pubdate: Sat, 07 Sep 2002
Source: Sunstar Dumaguete  (Philippines)
Copyright: 2002 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/affiliate.php3?locid=6
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1719
Author: Angeline Valencia
Note: Quotes in last several paragraphs are as printed (not translated into 
English, as rest of article)

NBI ACHIEVEMENTS SLAP ON POLICE'S FACE: MAYOR

MAYOR Agustin Perdices lambasted the Dumaguete City police for their many 
excuses over their failure to produce results against crime as expected.

The mayor compared the efficiency of the police in responding to emergency 
and apprehending law violators to the output of the National Bureau of 
Investigation, which is even more undermanned and less equipped in terms of 
mobility.

He cited the instances when the NBI, which has only four men, outsmarted 
the city police force in apprehending drug suspects and vendors of pirated CDs.

"I don't know if the police realize that that is a slap on their face nga 
laing agency maoy makadakop, dili sila. To me, this is a challenge to our 
police force nga here is the NBI producing results, why are they not 
producing," Perdices said.

He said the police should produce more results, as there are more of them.

The mayor issued the statement in reaction to the earlier pronouncements of 
City Police Chief Rey Lyndon Lawas that lack of serviceable vehicles and 
communication equipment has affected their mobility.

Lawas, however, claimed that his station has not made this limitation a 
hindrance in their quest to provide safety and maintain peace and order in 
the community.

Lawas said that there are only 101 cops in Dumaguete.

Of the 101, only 98 are effective, since one is under suspension, while 
three are into studies.

With the limited personnel, he said, only 35 cops are deployed in every 
shift to protect 102,265 people at nighttime or 10 percent higher at daytime.

But Perdices said that the police "should stop making excuses," and rather 
produce results."Tanan dili man sila ra. Everybody naa go'y kakulangan. 
Pero we should not always use that as a defense.

Ato ra let's do our best with what we have. Show to the public that with 
the limited tools we have, we can accomplish something. Dili ra mosige ta'g 
ingon nga dili namo ma-accomplish tungod ani, tungod ana," Perdices said.
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