“CITY’S economy is on the receiving end of the worst consequences of the organized crime,” thus said Councilor George Goking, chair of the Cagayan de Oro council’s trade and commerce committee.
Goking issued statements after, one of his colleagues, councilor Romeo Calizo labeled the city, as part of his observation to the special report of Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas, Monday that the city “has now become a hub of criminals and this indicates its weak intelligence.”
“We should exercise caution on our statements. His (Calizo) statements will add more problems to our economic recovery,” said Goking adding that even might a sabotage the city's economy.
Fighting crime, Goking said, should now be one of the top priorities for the city, where economic development and living standards of the Cagayanons were drastically affected by the pandemic.
Calizo, chair of the City Council committee on public order and safety also issued observation that city police intelligence is weak, as the city can no longer afford to incur more killings mostly perpetrated by riding-in-tandems.
Also the need for an intelligence fund to mobilize the police force, according to Calizo.
Nonetheless, Goking said, several groups in the city are just waiting and willing to help solving on crime issues.
“We can tap stakeholders, civic groups and non-governmental organizations, even Armed Forces of the Philippines' reservists,” he said.
Goking, who also an Air Force' reservist with rank of Captain, urged the public to adopt the “bayanihan spirit” to help solve crimes.
“Vigilance, security consciousness and criminal community involvement are among the major factors in solving crimes,” said Goking.
He also wanted to review the city’s CCTV implementations, its strategic locations as a tool to fight crime and even prevent terrorism.
We need to educate people on how to establish safety protocol specially on high risks individuals, according to Goking.
He said even the creation of the barangays intelligence network, peace-keeping action team and the barangay public safety officers is one way of drawing volunteers from the public to get involved in crime prevention.
“We should help each other by giving information to the police that would help solve a case as it's also helping to recover our economy,” Goking said. (Ben Balce)
