CEBU CITY — Drones will now be a part of the anti-criminality campaign in Central Visayas.
The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) has formed a drone patrolling team that will reinforce personnel conducting daily patrol on the ground.
“The use of technology is one of the anti-criminality programs that our regional director is undertaking,” said Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis, PRO-7 chief.
Pelare said 40 drone patrollers will support urban patrollers deployed in crime-prone areas.
“You can just imagine, you can now predict traffic congestion with the use of drone patrollers. You can easily pursue criminals. Law enforcement will be a lot convenient and effective,” Pelare said.
Pelare said the effectiveness of drone patrollers were proven during the Sinulog Festival at the South Road Properties here last month.
“There were snatching incidents and we were able to locate and apprehend the culprits because of our drone patrol team,” said Pelare.
The 40 drone patrollers will be under the Regional Operations Division, which will plan “the systematic and analytical deployment,” said Pelare.
“What our regional director wants is for our drone team to complement our foot patrolling team. Just imagine, we have patrol on the ground and we have an aerial patrol as well,” Pelare said.
Pelare said the PRO-7 has purchased drones with required specifications while personnel who are part of the patrolling team underwent through necessary training for a maximum result.
The PRO-7 is planning to acquire more drones in the future as the current 40 available gadgets are not enough, Pelare said.
“We are really seeing that time will come that all police units will have their drone patrols which is really a big help in crime prevention and drug solution,” Pelare added.