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BARELY a month after Mandaue policemen are given the challenge to bring down the the city's crime rate, the number of crimes remain go up.
But Supt. Vicente Mersan Premne, acting director of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said his men were able to solve most of these crimes and arrest the culprits.
When he assumed office in September, Premne said that there were nine reported theft incidents and six robbery cases. Of the numbers, seven cases of thief and four robbery incidents were solved.
During the session on Tuesday, Premne told the Mandaue City Council that the crime rate was not alarming but he promised to lower the figures.
The report presented by Premne showed that most crimes happened on Sundays at an average of 11 cases on that day. Thursdays and Saturdays had an average of nine crime incidents each.
Premne said he strengthened patrol operations on those nights when crime incidents would usually happen. Crime statistics showed that criminals usually operate from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Policemen, along with tanods, also conduct night patrols, Premne told the councilors.
City Councilors appeared satisfied with Premne's presentation although there was slight exchanges between the acting police director and some councilors that prompted Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna to bang the gavel and call to order.
Councilor Emiliano Rosal became emotional when he urged Premne to crackdown on illegal cockfights even during fiestas. The councilor said that he had received reports that tigbakay were tolerated by the police.
Councilor Victor Biaño urged Premne to arrest the members of the Janitorial and Security Services Unit who would carry guns. Biaño got irked when Premne replied that he would have to check if these JASSU members were authorized to carry guns.
?You should arrest them immediately. You do not need to think about legalities and how you could justify them carrying firearms,? Biaño pointed out. /Reporter Dale G. Israel
