CEBU CITY – Make Cebu City peaceful, corruption-free, and drug-free.
This is the goal of retired Police Gen. Debold Sinas who was tapped by Mayor Michael Rama as adviser on peace and order.
“I am happy that I was chosen as one of the advisors particularly on public safety. I think that’s one of my specialties,” said Sinas, who attended a program prior to the City Council’s inaugural session Wednesday, July 6.
In his oath-taking last week, Rama said that in his fresh mandate, he aspires to transform the city into a Singapore-like city.
Sinas, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said this can only be achieved if the city can maintain an improved peace and order situation.
As a peace and order adviser, Sinas said he will push for the activation of what he called “tri-bureau” that will be composed of the police, fire, and jail bureaus.
The city’s traffic management office will also have to work closely with law enforcement agencies, Sinas said.
“I believe what the mayor wants is a Singapore-like Cebu City. So we should not work on our own, there should be collaboration,” said Sinas, who once led the Cebu City-based Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7).
Sinas emphasized that working closely with public order agencies will help the city become one of the more popular places in the country.
To get rid the City Hall of corruption will also be one of Sinas’ goals.
“I emphasized to mayor, if you want that we become a Singapore-like city, we lessen or eliminate corruption in the front units,” Sinas said.
Sinas said would also want to see Rama sustain the campaign against illegal drugs.
Sinas said he would advise random drug testing for police, fire, jail, and traffic personnel.
“It’s necessary, a preventive aspect. It is in the law to have a drug-free workplace. So before we start minding other people, we should start in our own backyard,” Sinas said.
During his 16-month stint as PRO 7 chief, Sinas led an intensified campaign against anti-illegal drugs.
Under Sinas’ watch, the PRO 7 conducted at least 10,000 drug-related operations resulting in the confiscation of 189 kilos of shabu and 485 kilos of marijuana.
Sinas said he will come up with more concrete plans once he settles down as a City Hall advisor.
“Once we are settled with public order agencies, we will start talking to our partners, talk to councilors, talk to the barangays. We will organize first before we go down to the community,” Sinas said.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has welcomed Sinas’ appointment as the city’s adviser on peace and order.
Police Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, spokesperson of the CCPO, said that the CCPO has been consulting with Sinas on law enforcement matters even before his appointment.
“Gen. Debold Sinas has been very material in our law enforcement initiatives in the city,” Macatangay said.