Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced that he is eyeing to lease patrol cars to help the police, particularly the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, on preventing crimes following the recent series of killings in Metro Cebu wherein five were dead over the weekend.
“I want to mobilize our SWAT team. You know, nanghangyo ang atong police nga naay (our police is requesting for them to have a) SWAT van. I really don’t believe in a SWAT van. I believe in having patrol cars,” he added.
Albeit the series of killings do not alarm him, Osmeña also urged the police to continue monitoring the incidents.
“No, it’s not alarming. I think these are isolated cases. It happens in New York City, Los Angeles. We’ll just monitor the situation to see if there’s a pattern,” said Osmeña.
Osmeña said he already studied that leasing one patrol car, which will run for 24 hours, may cost the city government approximately P70,000 per month. The fee, he said, will also include the salaries for the SWAT members assigned to take the patrol car in their custody.
“What I’m thinking I’m doing is similar to that of leasing garbage trucks. We will also lease police cars on a 24/7 basis. That’s P70,000 for one car running for 24 hours, not only 8 hours. Then we can use them to catch overspeeding in the mountain barangays,” explained Osmeña.