AS TRIBUTE to the now deceased former Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Pablo “Ambing” Magtajas, the City Council on Tuesday, June 20, urged the city to revive Operation Kahusay ug Kalinaw (OKK).
The centralized police station in downtown Divisoria was significant to the city’s peace and order situation in the early 1990s under the administration of the late “Ambing” Magtajas.
City Councilor Reuben Daba proposed the revival of the OKK which he said, was successful in crime prevention.
"This was an executive order before under Mayor Ambing Magtajas, but we want it to be made into a local law now, it will be easier to create it because we already have the exact pattern to follow," Daba said.
The OKK will be passed under an executive order for its immediate activation.
He said the command center, or the OKK office, will either be placed in the City Hall or Divisoria area, and the government's first line of defense will all be present there for the quick response.
Daba said he wants to activate it immediately, to maintain the safety and security of the city amid the terror threat.
The OKK, is composed of the city mayor, with councilors as his members, including the business, religious sectors, civil society organizations, and barangay officials.
Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said when he was still village chairman, every night, police officials along with the civil society groups, among others, will patrol the streets to secure the city.
"Motabang mi ug convoy sa mga police, bisan trabahante sa City Hall gi-encourage na motabang, even National Government agencies joined the roving every night," Lao said.
"Naa man gud uban employees na they can help us feed information kung kinsa ang notorious nga for example, thief diha sa area, maka-determine unsay problema sa barangay so sauna, naka-tabang gyud to for crime prevention," he added.
Lao welcomed the possible revival of the crime prevention program, but said before activating it, village watchmen should first be empowered and organized.
"Wala may problema because we need to exhaust all effort para ma-secure ang siyudad, but key persons for this to happen and barangay tanods, which needs organizing pa gyud, needing assistance as well, so we also need to focus sa ila," he said.
The proposal for the revival is referred to the committee on police, fire, and public safety, chaired by City Councilor Romeo Calizo for its comprehensive study.
