Council told: Amend CCTV, helmet laws

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

 CITY police director Faro Antonio Olaguera yesterday called on the city council to amend two ordinances in an effort to improve law enforcement in the city.

Senior Supt. Olaguera said the city laws that need to be amended are the ordinances on the compulsory use of motorcycle helmets, and closed-circuit television cameras for commercial establishments.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has already submitted its request for amendments to the city council’s committee on police and public safety.

Olaguera said City Ordinance no. 11075-2008 requires commercial establishments to install CCTV cameras to aid police officers investigating crimes. But he said Cocpo wants the ordinance amended to compel bus companies that operate in the city to install CCTV cameras in the vehicles.

Based on the present ordinance, CCTV cameras are required of banks, department stores, shopping malls, secondary schools, colleges and universities, gasoline stations, pawnshops, lending institutions, convenience stores, and all similar establishments that are open for more than 12 hours a day.

He said the ordinance needs to be amendment for the security and protection of bus passengers in view of recurring terrorism threats.

Olaguera said the city council would also need to amend the city’s helmet ordinance, a measure based on RA 10054 or the Motorcycle Act.

Olaguera said the helmet ordinance should only apply to motorcycle riders outside the city proper.

The exact opposite should be done when motorcycle riders enter the city proper, he said.

“Kabahin kini sa kampaniya batok sa kremin, atong hangyoon ang city council nga ripasohon ang maong ordinansa aron iequire ang mga motorista nga dili mosul-ob sa helmet kon mosulod kini sa sentrong bahin sa dakbayan,” he said.

Olaguera said the police have noted that many of those responsible for crimes such as robbery and shootings wear motorcycle helmets to conceal their identities.

He said the ordinance should only require motorcycle riders to wear helmets when they traverse the highway, and not the streets in the city proper.

Olaguera said that while Cocpo’s request has already been sent to the city council’s police committee, he said he expects the amendments to be approved by the next city council. The next set of city councilors and the new vice mayor would assume office on July 1.