By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
CITY police director Senior Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguera’s proposal to amend two ordinances in an effort to improve law enforcement in the city has gained support from the city council’s committee on police, fire and public safety.
Olaguera said he wanted the law on closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) for commercial establishments to include public utility buses and the use of helmets by motorcycle users within the city limits be amended.
The support came from outgoing City Councilor Ramon Tabor, the principal author of Ordinance No. 11075-2008, known as the CCTV Installation Ordinance of 2008, who said he will recommend the expansion of the coverage of the ordinance to include public utility buses.
The ordinance only mandates the installation of CCTV or video surveillance system in the premises of private establishments and public places.
During the meeting of the city council committee on police, fire and public safety last week presided by Tabor, Olaguera has proposed the amendment of the CCTV law.
According to the police director, the local police office is mostly relying on description of witnesses for crimes committed in buses.
If there are CCTVs in buses, he said, authorities will not find it difficult to spot the perpetrators in the act of committing a crime.
While supporting this, Tabor suggested that a public hearing should first be called before the legislation should be passed.
The law requires highisk establishments such as banks, lending institutions, pawnshops, money changer shops, internet cafes, gasoline stations, lotto outlets, restaurants and businesses, which are prone or susceptible to incidence of robbery and theft, to install CCTVs in their premises.
The councilor has commended many barangays who have also put up CCTVs within their jurisdiction.
Tabor convened the committee for the last time on Friday, to hear the updates and concerns of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (COCPO), Cagayan de Oro Fire District and City Jail Male and Female Dormitories.
Tabor said he also wanted to thank the COCPO, BFP and city jail officials for their efforts in maintaining the city’s peace and order despite limited resources and for the cooperation extended to the committee.
He urged them to continue to support and cooperate with the incoming chairman of the committee that he will be vacating.
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