Archival ‘amazed’ with CCPO’s quick response

Local

CEBU CITY Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. has expressed confidence in the police force’s ability to deliver on its promise of a five-minute response time.

This was after personally testing the Cebu City Police Office’s (CCPO) system during a simulation that yielded even faster results.

In a press conference on Monday, September 1, Archival said he was “amazed” after conducting surprise trial calls through 911, which were immediately relayed to the CCPO.

“I was really amazed. We tested it at City Hall and in just 1.5 minutes, the police were already here. We tried another simulation in Talamban, and they responded in three minutes,” Archival said.

The mayor noted that police used drones and body cameras during the simulation, although he raised concerns about the limited number of body cams available.

Still, he stressed that the exercise proved the police’s capacity to respond quickly when emergencies are properly reported.

“We are more than satisfied, but we also need more coordination with them. At first, I did not fully understand what this ‘five minutes’ meant, but they proved it. I’m happy about it,” he added.

The CCPO’s response time commitment is part of a nationwide directive from then-Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III, which requires local police units to respond to incidents within five minutes of receiving a report.

Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, the CCPO’s Deputy Director for Operations, had earlier stated that the target requires active public participation.

“This five-minute response time requires your participation as well,” Macatangay said. “If a crime has happened in front of you and no one reported it to the authorities, of course, no one will respond to that particular incident."

She added that CCPO has consistently beaten the five-minute limit in both simulation exercises and actual incidents.

“In less than three minutes, our police personnel are able to respond to that specific location where the crime happened,” she said.

For Archival, the simulation results reflect progress in strengthening peace and order in Cebu City, a priority he raised with PNP officials during his early months in office.

He said the city government would continue to work closely with CCPO to maintain safety and public trust, especially as Cebu hosts large events like the Sinulog Festival that draw millions of residents and visitors.

“Public safety is not just the concern of our law enforcement authorities. It should be a two-way process. It is everyone’s concern,” Macatangay also emphasized.

Archival said he is “happy” with CCPO’s efforts but vowed to pursue stronger coordination and support for the police to ensure Cebu City remains secure and resilient against crime and emergencies.(TGP)