Lapu-Lapu City might issue guns, bulletproof vests to ‘qualified’ enforcers

Enforcer Raquel Bensi was shot dead by two motorcycle riding suspects on the evening of January 27, 2017 while manning traffic in Barangay Basak. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

Acting Lapu-Lapu City mayor Marcial Ycong is now considering the possibility of arming “qualified” traffic enforcers and giving them bulletproof vests for their protection.

Ycong said he understands that their intensified implementation of their “Oplan Koluron” campaign is becoming very risky.

“Ato sab gitan-aw nga tugotan nga makadala ug armas ang uban traffic enforcer kon kwalipikado (We are also considering the possibility of arming qualified traffic enforcers),” said Ycong.

At least two personnel of the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) were shot since the city’s intensified implementation of its campaign against unregistered tricycles last year.

Enforcer Raquel Bensi was shot dead by two motorcycle riding suspects on the evening of January 27, 2017 while manning traffic in Barangay Basak.

Former CTMS head Frank Brazil was also shot while he was leaving their office on the eve of August 6, 2016. Brazil was lucky to have survived the attack.

Suspects in the two shooting incidents have remained at large.

Ycong said he will be asking city council members to pass a resolution that would authorize the use of city hall funds as reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of Bensi and Brazil’s attackers.

But he would not yet say how much the city will give out as cash reward.

Ycong noted improvements in the traffic flow especially in the vicinity of Barangay Basak, where Bensi was killed, since the police partnered with CTMS personnel in manning traffic in the area.

“Gusto ko nga ipadayon gyud na sa atong kapolisan kay hilabihan gyud ka traffic anang lugara sa kadaghan sa mga tricycle (I want the police to continue to help man traffic in the area because of the presence of several tricycle units there),” said Ycong.

Ycong said there are around 400 unregistered tricycles that ply the route from the Lapu-Lapu City Public Market to Barangays Pajac and Bankal, passing through Barangay Basak.

Unregistered units are in addition to the around 3,700 tricycle units that were issued with franchises by city hall.