|
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Cebu City Govt. ineffective against crime: Vidal
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said the Cebu City Government has not been effective in fighting crime, especially with the recent East West bank heist.
“It seems they are doing something but I could not see that, especially with the crimes occurring in our place. What are they doing then? How do we prevent these crimes?” Vidal told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Following last Monday’s bank robbery, the police assured the public that they are doing their best to deter robbers, but some banks seem “hesitant” to cooperate with them.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Chief Supt. Eduardo Gador said banks such as East West and the Land Bank of the Philippines insist on their own security measures, such as informing first their main office about a robbery instead of the local police.
“There are many banks that are cooperative but some have their own policies,” he told reporters yesterday.
“The police can only do so much. If we are not informed right away, the robbers will be able to escape,” Gador said.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña even suggested placing warning signs at banks that will not cooperate with the police.
He was “being funny,” he said, but if banks will opt to have the robbers escape to ensure their personnel are safe, the police might as well not respond when they call for help.
“We will tighten the (security) system and we will treat banks differently. Those who will cooperate, we will help them; those who will not, we will not help,” he said in a press conference yesterday.
“I have always been appealing to them (banks). Let us know right away,” Mayor Osmeña said.
He said he normally does not divulge information such as bank safety policies, but he was trying to be fair to the police because they are always made the scapegoat.
Cardinal Vidal acknowledged the police’s efforts in trying to prevent and solve crimes, including the continued frat wars and vigilante killings of suspected criminals.
But he said a lot has to be done, adding that he will no longer wait for action from the government. He instead urged the people to group together and act as a community to fight these crimes.
“It is better if people start to become vigilant against these crimes that have been happening. We should not continue to be indifferent. We should act on what is happening and help each other,” Vidal said.
“I do not know everyone from our police force, especially since they keep changing the people there. But one thing is for sure, I know that they are doing something to solve these crimes,” the cardinal said.
For his part, Acting Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Gayotin said he plans to request the City Government to provide at least 12 scooter-type motorcycles to give policemen more speed in running after criminals.
Gayotin pointed out that the patrol cars have difficulty chasing smaller motorcycles in busy and narrow streets.
In the East West robbery, police have yet to zero in on a suspect, although a bank employee singled out someone in the rogues’ gallery.
But the employee’s pick baffled police because the person is not tied to robberies but to a modus called laglag-barya, wherein a person is tricked into helping someone pick up coins while a cohort takes his valuables.
East West Bank along Archbishop Reyes Ave. was robbed for the second time this year.
Last Jan. 31, the bank lost about P500,000 to five armed men, one of whom was robbery gang leader Rey Torres, who is now in jail.
This time, the bank, according to a statement it sent to Sun.Star Cebu, lost at least P50,000 to four men, two of whom were armed with pistols. (MEA/RHM/LLV)
(September 28, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
check>
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
