Biz group urges police to boost intel network

WITH the series of robbery incidents in Cagayan de Oro City which the suspects are targeting small and big establishments, a group of businessmen urged the police to strengthen its intelligence network to track the perpetrators believed to be hiding in the city.

Ralph Paguio, then president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (OroChamber), said police officials have to devote more time on intelligence gathering as its preventive and reactive measures.

“We would like to emphasize that probably the police have to spend more time on intelligence gathering. It is deterrent to criminals that if there is high rate of apprehension or if the rate of solving the crime is high (then it’s a good prevention),” Paguio said early this week. “But still, the cooperation of the two sectors (police, businessmen) is needed.”

Paguio said establishments already hit by robbery incidents and those vulnerable to burglary have to work hand-in-hand to prevent such occurrences.

“Everybody should be involved. If they sense plots of robbery, they should report it immediately to the authorities concerned. What if time comes it also happened to them?” he added.

As their preventive measures, business establishments could use closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, “if they can afford.”

“Owners of business establishments may also hire security guards if they can afford. But more importantly they should be aware of their surroundings,” he said.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) accordingly did not fail to remind the business establishments to put up security cameras and security force.

“But CCTVs are not that cheap however effective it is. Only those large establishments can ably put up CCTVs and security guards. What will happen is that (marginalized) business owners may be forced to add their security expenditures to the pricing of their product,” Paguio, also an active businessman, said.

What Paguio suggested was for the Cocpo leadership to install police officers on areas where small establishments are found.

“Aside from the police, the barangay leaders could also establish their own security forces to help man the trading public. They know these people in the neighborhood from the ground level. They see what’s going on. The barangays enjoy share from the taxes paid by these business establishments. So, they should also be involved on intelligence networking,” he said.

Insured

Some business establishments reportedly availed the insurance coverage, which reason accordingly would not bother them how many times they would be robbed.

But Paguio said once a business establishment was robbed “time and again” a robbery incident occurred in their premise, insurance companies would possibly increase their premiums.

“I don’t think somebody would like to be robbed because he has an insurance coverage. There is a big possibility that their premiums would increase if the frequency of robbery is high or worse, they would not anymore be admitted for insurance coverage,” he said.

As its commitment to secure the member-companies, the Chamber’s past President said, “Your Chamber will always be at the forefront.”

“We just had a meeting with police officers in the city, maybe we can meet again to discuss what we can do to help maintain peace and order in our city,” he said even as he admitted that robbery incidents are considered alarming.

“Not only financially, but we should contribute time to go see our PNP frequently and ask for assistance or counseling. This is alarming and this is like a symptom that needs immediate response. Because we were hit by burglary, it means we are lax. We must strengthen our defenses,” he urged police and co-businessmen.