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Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Police note rash of theft cases at SRP
A report of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) shows that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña had reasons to close the Cebu South Coastal Road.
CIIB Chief Pablo Labra II yesterday admitted recommending the temporary closure of the coastal road citing security problems and petty crimes that occurred in the area.
Labra also released a copy of a “security survey” conducted by the CIIB last April 5 and 6 on the “state/condition of security of the South Reclamation Project (SRP).”
The report dated April 7 cited four observations:
* Holes made by unidentified people on the fence of SRP, particularly at the side of the Alumnus-Mambaling;
* Fixtures of the Zugbu building were apparently taken or lost;
* Squatters’ attempt to build houses/shanties inside SRP, particularly at the side of Laray, Talisay
City; and
* Loss of electrical wires on the SRP bridge near the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) side.
“It is the assessment of this office that there are security problems in SRP. It is therefore suggested that the security force thereat be beefed up and that the above-mentioned observation be attended to. And it is further recommended that while there is not enough security force in SRP, it should be temporarily closed to the public,” the report said.
Last Sunday, around 11:30 a.m., CIIB policemen deployed to the coastal road also arrested two men for allegedly attempting to steal cable wires near the Veco plant.
Patrol
A separate police report about last Sunday’s incident was also sent to the mayor’s office, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 and City Councilors Augustus Pe Jr. and Procopio Fernandez.
Based on the report, PO1s Rolito Estrobo, Mardin Ma-nano and Nathaniel Lumacad were conducting preventive patrol when they caught two men trying to steal cable wires near the Veco plant.
The policemen found an improvised steel saw and pliers allegedly used by the perpetrators.
The suspects, who were also caught in possession of shabu sniffing paraphernalia, were identified as Edward Villafuerte, 33, and Rogelio Debalucos, 31, both of Alaska, Mambaling.
The two were charged yesterday before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.
Both Labra and Acting Cebu City Police Melvin Gayotin, however, said they did not know the real reason policeman Ahmed Lo-zano of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) was pulled out as one of the detailed personnel at the SRP.
Labra said he received an order to assign CIIB personnel at the SRP, which he just followed.
Gayotin, on the other hand, said the city police took over the security at the SRP two weeks ago after receiving a request from the Office of the Mayor.
Drugs
A source at the PRO 7 told Sun.Star Cebu that Osmeña did not indicate the alleged illegal drug transactions at the SRP as among the reasons for his request.
Sun.Star Cebu tried to contact PRO 7 Chief Eduardo Gador, to no avail.
RMG 7 Chief Jesus Gaquing said he also he does not know the reason; he only followed PRO 7’s order.
Gayotin said that among the reasons the RMG was pulled out were reports that RMG personnel sometimes go out of their area of jurisdiction.
At present, Gayotin and Labra said the city police has deployed four policemen to the SRP.
Gayotin said the ideal number should be eight policemen but they lack personnel. (JST/GC)
(April 12, 2005 issue)
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