Guidelines Set for ‘Free Police Assistance Call’

The Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) will invite the representatives from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the private telecommunications companies to a meeting next week to discuss the mechanics on how the cellphone subscribers can be allowed to call for police assistance free of charge during emergency situations.

PCAC Presiding Officer Eugene Elizalde said they will send invitations to NTC-7 Regional Director Jess Laureno and the representatives from Globe Telecom, Sun Cellular, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) and from the Local Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Office to attend the PCAC meeting on Tuesday next week.

Elizalde said the representatives of the different telecommunications companies have already approved in principle the request of the police and Cebu City government that they will allow their cellphone subscribers to call for police assistance without charging any amount from them.

“Mao na ang among sabotan kon unsaon nila nga makatawag na ang mga cellphone subscribers sa polis pinaagi sa 117 gamit ang ilang cellphones kay karon gud dili man magamit ang cellphone pagtawag sa police hotline,” the PCAC presiding officer explained.

Elizalde further said that it would be easy for the public to remember and dial the three-digit hotline number of the police, but the question is that what will happen if the cellphone subscribers, during the time of her call, is in other area outside Cebu City.

“Usa kana sa among hisgutan kon makatawag ba gihapon sa Cebu City kon ang caller tua na sa Mandaue City ug ubang dapit.

Cebu City Police Director Mariano Natuel was so happy that cellphone subscribers in Cebu City be given the benefit to call for police assistance free of charge whenever they need assistance or to inform whatever crimes that is happening in their respective areas.

Both Natuel and Elizalde believed that the public’s cooperation to the police as one of the Five Pillars of the Criminal Justice System will greatly improve once the project will be realized.