CEBU CITY – As part of its intensified security preparation for the Yuletide season, the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO 7) is strengthening its additional security measures to monitor the presence of armed robbery groups in the region, particularly in Cebu.

PRO 7 Regional Intelligence Division chief Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, in a recent forum here, said that since Christmas season is also considered as an opportunity for robbery groups to strike believing it is the time of the year where many people have more money to spend due to incentives and other privileges, the police force is expected to widen its monitoring.

“We can not deny the possible presence of criminal elements here which is why we are continuously monitoring suspicious personalities coming from other regions,” Buenafe declared.
As this developed, this city’s police office has also employed additional security measures this Christmas to ensure that petty crimes do not flourish in anticipation of an increased crime volume such as snatching.

Supt. Anecito Perandos, this city’s police community relations chief, disclosed that they are currently deploying more men on the field to strengthen police visibility, as more people are expected to be in public areas like malls and other commercial establishments.

“The CCPO is utilizing maximum deployment especially in crime-prone areas and where people are expected to flock to do their Christmas shopping rush,” Perandos said.

Perandos added that police personnel assigned in desk offices are also having rotation assignments outside to complement and assist in the patrol watch together with the Mobile Patrol Group.

With limited manpower resources, Perandos said “we are banking heavily on the force multipliers like the barangay tanods (village watchmen) and civilian volunteers to help the police prevent crimes and maintain peace and order.”

Meanwhile, PRO 7 also announced that the security measures for the Yuletide season is also in preparation for the forthcoming anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on December 26.