PNP organizes its tourist police unit in Naga

By Jason B. Neola

The Naga City Police Office (NCPO) has recently activated its tourist police unit to anticipate the influx of tourists who will be visiting the city, now with fewer movement restrictions under the general community quarantine (GCQ) status.

Col. Marlon Catan, NCPO chief, said the unit activation is also a part of NCPO’s preparation for the possible conduct of civic and religious activities that will highlight the celebration of the month-long Peñafrancia fiesta in September.

“We have to prepare for the possible conduct of the Peñafrancia fiesta this coming September considering that more people are having themselves injected with vaccines against Covid-19,” he said.

BIKES FOR COPS. Mayor Nelson Legacion turns over a bike to a tourist cop while Police Col. Marlon Catan puts a helmet on him. -CEPPIO

To be temporarily stationed at the tourist assistance center in Plaza Quezon, the tourist police unit, which is composed of more than 20 male cops, is directly under the supervision of a female officer, Lt. Col. Josel Zape. Catan said another team of biking policemen will be organized in the following month to augment the current strength of tourist cops.

Catan said the tourist cops will be deployed to three tourist destinations in the city, namely, the Basilica Minore de Sra. De Peñafrancia in Barangay Balatas, the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Malabsay Falls area in Barangay Panicuason.

On July 24, 10 new units of mountain bikes were donated by the Naga City government to the tourist police unit.

Mayor Nelson Legacion said the bikes will serve as useful mobility for the cops as they respond to tourist-related security and safety issues in the city.