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Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Editorial: Embarassment
ILIGAN Mayor Franklin Quijano's criticism on the laxity of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office in maintaining its checkpoints should serve as a strong second wake-up call for Cagayan police.
The first criticism was issued by Mayor Vicente Emano himself who castigated the city police for having allowed the carnaps to continue unabated.
He also "advised" the city police from having to coordinate with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 10 or the PNP regional office in going after these carnappers saying they could go through this alone.
True, the carnappers laid low for awhile, only to hit again when they stole an L200 Mitsubishi pickup owned by one Milbert Montebon.
The vehicle was recovered following negotiations with a certain Sultan Tajar Sarip, preofessor of Mindanao State University (MSU) who convinced them to leave the vehicle at 5th Street, Marawi City.
What was surprising was that the vehicle was remodeled by the suspects --tires replaced including the seats, the hood and even the plate number.
That it had to take negotiations with an MSU professor in order to facilitate the recovery of the vehicle is nothing but an embarassment to the city police's anti-carnap campaign.
Quijano's comments also suggested that the carnappers could strike at will in Cagayan de Oro City leaving no vehicle safe in their wake.
It would have at least been tolerable if a local official criticizes the city police's perceived laxity. But the fact that it was an official from a neighboring city who made the criticism makes it really sting.
Quijano's suggestion that a major communications network be set up is valid in order to boost relations among the local government units (LGUs), especially in the anti-carnap drive.
But no, our mayor had to go the solo route by saying the problem could be contained here. If that is so, then vehicle owners like Montebon would probably never see their units again.
In order to finally crack down on this carnap menace the city police should get to the bottom of allegations that a Lanao government official and an LTO extension office is in cahoots with each other to seize privately-owned vehicles.
But so, far we haven't heard a peep from acting city police director Antonio Montalba. We sure hope he's addressing this problem squarely.
Otherwise we are likely to experience another carnap wave, with the city police going daft and running around in circles while the carnappers speed off merrily on their way from heist to heist.
(October 8, 2003 issue)
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