DAVAO CITY -- The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) received Tuesday its 26 new patrol cars – a Mitsubishi Montero donated by the people of Japan to boost its mobility within the downtown areas.
DCPO director Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum said he is very happy with the arrival of the new donated patrol cars because it would be a big help in securing the city.
"I am not happy for the DCPO alone but for the whole people of Davao City because the purpose of these new Nintendo Sports vehicle will be for the protection and security, " he said.
"We assured that most of these vehicles will be deployed in the commercial areas and public convergence," Tagum added.
He said 24 of the vehicles would be given to Mobile Patrol Group which would be deployed in the areas of Sta. Ana, San Pedro, Talomo, Buhangin, and Sasa.
"We will be requesting that one of the vehicles will be painted with Matte Black for SWAT," he said.
One of the vehicles will be used as a tactical vehicle of DCPO's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) while the other one will be used as City Director’s vehicle.
He said there would be three police officers in every vehicle to ensure that there would be enough force to respond in every call for police assistance.
To drive the new cars, DCPO will employ drivers paid by the city government by the city government.
The screening of applicants is ongoing. So far, 66 applicants are now for background check.
Tagum said there would be a “soft turn over on December 21" so that the vehicles would be used in securing the Christmas season in the city.
"Eventually, the formal turnover will be conducted in the second week of January 2018 with the presence of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Japanese ambassador," he said. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)
