Cebu Prov’l Police Office forms task group against human trafficking

By Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU CITY, August 20 (PIA) -- In order to strengthen enforcement against human trafficking in Cebu, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) formed the Provincial Anti-Trafficking Persons Task Group amid the recent interception of a case of suspected human trafficking last week at Pier 4, Cebu City involving three minors and two adults.

CPPO Police Director S/Supt. Patrocinio Commendador said the mandate to form the task group came from national headquarters of which he heads composed of personnel from the provincial police intelligence, operations, women’s desk and police community relations aims to quickly respond to cases of suspected human trafficking.

Commendador said that since 2009, the police have recorded 13 cases of human trafficking in Cebu and all these cases are now filed in the courts.

“The 13 cases on violations to RA 9208 or the Anti Trafficked in Persons Act of 2003 are now in the courts while other two cases on anti-child pornography have also been filed against identified suspects. The cases of anti-child pornography occurred only this year,” Commendador disclosed.

Commendador appealed to members of the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO) to help the police in the battle against human trafficking and cyber pornography by educating the residents in their respective localities about the nature of both crimes and not to be easily swayed by those offering huge sums of money to perform lewd acts in front of the camera or dubious job opportunities away from home.  

The suspected case of human trafficking last August 9 came three days after 15 teenagers and young women from Bohol were also intercepted by members of the 701^st Cebu Maritime Police Station upon their arrival at the Cebu City Pier.

As reported, the Cebu Maritime Police got a tip from a guard at Pier 3 about the suspicious travelers from Tagbilaran City, Bohol and during the verification process found that over P20,000 for transportation fare was spent from Bohol to Manilawhere the victims were promised with jobs as nannies or housemaids. Two recruiters, a mother and her daughter, were apprehended and charged with violating RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

The Cebu provincial police director however, assured that crimes on human trafficking and cyber pornography represents less than one percent of the total crime volume in the province.

“The total crime volume of both index and non-index crimes in Cebu Province is pegged at 900 to 1,000 combined cases and human trafficking and cyber pornography is only less than one percent of the total crime volume,” according to Commendador. (PIA 7-Cebu)

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Cebu City to regulate ‘habal-habal’ to help control traffic

By: Amor Saludar

CEBU CITY, August 19 (PIA) -- Cebu City Hall formed ‘Operation Hagibis’ that would help control the traffic situation in some barangays due to the existence of ‘habal-habal’or single motor vehicle that operates in said areas.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama already called the attention of the barangay captains of said barangays in order to discuss solutions that would  address ‘habal-habal’ drivers who parked and picked up passengers in undesignated areas and practice over speeding.

The Operation Hagibis will be headed by City Administrator Jose Poblete, Cebu City Police Office Director S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe and the barangay captains of identified barangays.

Rama noted the need to regulate ‘habal-habal’ operations in the city, which is now already operating in many barangays specifically in the mountainous areas.

The city mayor however, assured that City Hall would make sure not to compromise the livelihood of affected drivers.

Buenafe who is assigned by the city mayor to investigate the socio-economic status of these ‘habal-habal’ drivers, said they will see to it that the families of affected drivers will not suffer from their means of living. (FCR/AS/PIA 7-Cebu)

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Cebu City LGU allocates fund to build additional classrooms   
By: Amor Saludar

CEBU CITY, August 19 (PIA) – The Cebu City Government allocated P62.3 M budget for the construction of additional classrooms and the rehabilitation of some elementary schools in the city.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the first batch of recipients for this project are those schools having few classrooms but known to have large number of enrollees and those schools with classrooms that needed urgent renovation.

Rama said that a total of 133 classrooms will be constructed out of this budget allocated by the city government for the educational sector.    

The project aims to improve the status of education in the city by providing additional classrooms to those institutions in need and will start from the elementary level and eventually will progress to the secondary level, this is said.

This project is intended to help the youth acquire better education by providing the necessary infrastructure needed for better learning in order for them to have a better future,” Rama stressed.

Uplifting the quality of education in Cebu City is one of the top priorities of his administration and addressing problems concerning the youth will be given immediate action, Rama said.

Rama further said he already met with the contractor that would be part of this project to ensure the safety and quality of the classrooms to be built.

As reported, he warned the contractor to only use the exact and appropriate materials for the construction. 

The city mayor added that allocating budgets only goes to those considered to be very important and needs immediate attention especially if it concerns the whole Cebuano community.

He also made a promise that Cebuanos can expect more projects from his administration because public money will be wisely spent relative to improving the city and the lives of its residents. (FCR/AS/PIA 7-Cebu)