Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa (fifth from left) and Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian (seventh) lead police and other local officials at the Jan. 12 turnover rites for the K-9 unit and new patrol cars.鈥擯HOTOS BY KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING AND VALENZUELA PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
Paws up for the newest, furry partners of the Valenzuela City police.
The city has joined the short list of聽 local government units in the country that聽 maintain their own team of bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs.
Valenzuela鈥檚 new K-9 unit is composed of six highly-trained members of various breeds.
They were formally turned over on Friday to the city鈥檚 650-strong police force, who also received 60 new patrol vehicles courtesy of City Hall.
A K-9 team member is called to a bomb-sniffing demo.
Costing about P1 million each, the vehicles are equipped with global positioning systems and dashboard cameras.
These upgrades are crucial in achieving a 鈥渟elf-sustained police force,鈥� said Mayor Rex Gatchalian, who led the turnover ceremony at the city鈥檚 Alert Center in Barangay Karuhatan.
The new 鈥減aw-lice鈥� squad include Labrador retrievers named 鈥淛hunjay鈥� and 鈥淶eus,鈥� Belgian Malinois 鈥淢ichael鈥� and 鈥淭anyo,鈥� a Beagle called 鈥淶anjo,鈥� and 鈥淥nyok鈥� the Jack Russel.
The city government has converted an old fire station into聽 a P4-million, 400-square-meter kennel for the dogs, which cost P350,000 each.
The dogs will have their own handlers and veterinarians, the mayor said.
During the program, the sniffers got to show off their nose for nefarious activities in a simulated police operation, where they were able detect explosives and narcotics concealed in a vehicle.
The 60 newly donated police cars are equipped with dashboard cameras and GPS.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian said having the new police vehicles equipped with dash-cams would help ensure transparency in the way officers conduct operations.
Also in the pipeline for the Valenzuela police is聽 the construction of a new SWAT headquarters and firing range, as well as the procurement of 89 new firearms.
鈥淭hese (upgrades) are a big boost to our city police as they fulfill their mandate,鈥� said Senior Supt. Ronaldo Mendoza, the city police chief.
鈥淲e commit to the local government and constituents of Valenzuela that we shall serve with utmost dedication worthy of the support (they) have given us,鈥� Mendoza added.
The guest of honor,聽 PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa,聽 called on the Valenzuela police to 鈥渞eturn the favor鈥� and 鈥渄ouble their efforts,鈥� now that they had been given better equipment and resources.