Members of various parish security groups (PSG) in Cebu City will help secure next year’s International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).
The Cebu City government will be conducting seminars and trainings for PSG members who will serve as force multiplier during the event.
There are 20 parishes in the city with PSGs. The number of members depends on how big the church is.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella on Wednesday met with the presidents of the PSGs to tackle the seminars and trainings that the city will hold.
Labella said through seminars, PSG members will know what to do in case of emergencies.
Warrantless arrests and preservation of crime scene as well as the detection of people out to cause trouble are some of the things that will be discussed in the trainings.
PSG members will help the police secure churches that the delegates from other countries will be visiting.
“We cannot do that (securing churches) alone. Di man ta makaingon nga ang police permi mosimba, permi naa sa simbahan. Naay barangay tanods, so volunteerism ni. Maayo kay nisanong sila. Nag-form silag Parish Security Group. Mo-augment gyud unya ni sila (We cannot say that policemen will be in churches always. Barangay tanods will be there so this will be volunteerism. It is good that they cooperate and form their own security groups. They will augment our security personnel),” Labella said.
Labella said he wanted the PSG leaders, barangay tanods, police and other government agencies to work together.
“Ato ning himoon aron gyud tagaan ug sangkapan nato sila sa kahibaw, aron dili magpataka kung unsay buhaton in their performance of their voluntary work sa pagbantay sa kahapsay ug kalinaw sa mga parokya (We are doing this so they we will be well-equipped and do the right thing when they carry out their voluntary work of guarding peace and order in parishes),” he added.
Genaro Casio, president of PSG-Cebu City chapter, said they are happy with the support given to them.
Casio lamented that their group has not been getting the support they needed.