POLICE rounded up 70 suspected criminals in Cagayan de Oro over the weekend, in a fresh campaign against criminality following the killing of a policeman whose wife was robbed at the weekly Night Café.

Last weekend’s series of arrests captured persons caught in the act while committing crimes while some have pending arrest warrants, said Acting City Police Director Noel Armilla.

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The anti-crime campaign throughout the city yielded bladed weapons, dried marijuana leaves, solvents—popularly known as “rugby”—gambling paraphernalia with bet money and motorcycles without plate number, said Armilla.

He admitted that the anti-criminality drive was triggered by the death of Inspector John Rey Lozada over two weeks ago at a crowded downtown Divisoria area.

Lozada, 27, was stabbed to death as he scuffled with the snatcher who took his wife’s handbag while they were eating at the Divisoria Night Café. He died in the hospital few hours after his operation due to three stab wounds in the chest that pierced his heart and lungs.

“That incident really triggered this drive so we reinstated the anti-crime drive that Col. Antonio Montalba had implemented during his time,” Armilla said, referring to the so-called “saturation drive” of his predecessor.

The police official denied that Mayor Constantino Jaraula’s call for his performance to be re-evaluated had spurred the anti-criminality drive.

Lozada’s death had earlier prompted Jaraula to call on Regional Police Director Danilo Empedrad to assess Armilla’s performance.

Despite the incident, however, Empedrad said he remains satisfied with Armilla’s performance in office. What’s important, he said, is the arrest of the man who killed Lozada.
Police Community Relations Director Leopoldo Bataoil also expressed support for Armilla, saying police should not get the blame “if they are proactive in their approach to peace and order.”

“The local government should support the police, particularly on their needs in combating criminalities, instead of condemning them criminalities occur,” said Bataoil.

Lozada's killing thrust into the spotlight once more the security concerns repeatedly raised on the holding of the weekly Night Café, a weekend event along the Divisoria strip that features a flea market, musical bands, and makeshift eateries that also sell alcohol.

Night Café has been frequently blamed for the street crimes occurring along the Divisoria area--a security concern that has repeatedly been raised over the years since it started during the Emano administration.

Armilla said the "peace and order campaign" will continue until December.