Friday, August 17, 2007
‘Meloy’ Garcia tagged gang boss; pier police probed; tourist cops chief relieved
THE police expect to file complaints against the Bohol Robbery Group today or tomorrow, even as the manhunt continues, acting Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador Jr. said yesterday.
Shown some pictures, witnesses have identified alleged gang leader Casimero “Meloy” Garcia and former Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) member Cresencio “Bruts” Reguya among the suspects, said Senior Insp. Michael Bastes.
Garcia and an unidentified robber were allegedly the ones who shot security guards Medard Rama and Procoro Esguerra, who escorted Metrobank collection teller Grace Maglangit last Monday.
Maglangit had just collected cash and was leaving the La Nueva supermarket through the employees’ entrance when the robbers attacked.
Before fleeing from the area, Garcia and Reguya, who was seen jumping out from a gray Toyota Lite Ace van, pumped bullets into the armored van parked near the employees’ entrance at the corner of Magallanes and Burgos Sts.
For his part, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will make some police operatives who were remiss in their duties answer for their lapses, as he assumed responsibility for the La Nueva robbery.
Osmeña said he will also check the possible shortcomings of some police officials who failed to act on intelligence reports that a robbery group planned to rob several establishments in the city.
Comendador summoned three “tourist cops” yesterday to his office, where he announced the replacement of the inspector who will supervise them.
Command
Effective yesterday, Senior Insp. Ryan Devaras of the Mabolo Police Station took over as the inspector in charge of the tourist cops. Devaras replaced Senior Insp. Mario Abellana.
Apart from the tourist cops—PO3 Rodacito Naval, SPO1 Enrique Teves and PO1 Mark Anthony Manlosa—Waterfront Police Station Chief Pedrillo Villamor is under investigation under the principle of command responsibility, said Comendador.
In a separate news conference, the mayor said he has always owned up to the responsibility to ensure peace and order.
That’s why he offered the Mobile Alarm Remote System to all banks, high-risk financial institutions and individuals for free.
“Absolutely, I assume responsibility, that is why I think we should look into all the details. If the performance of the policemen responsible is mediocre, then they should be transferred out of Cebu. And we should look into why they didn’t respond to intelligence reports,” Osmeña said.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia earlier said that local chief executives must own up to some kind of command responsibility for whatever happens in their area, and that they should all help each other in addressing peace and order problems.
“Not like the governor, her political enemy gets killed in her own compound and she won’t accept responsibility. Jojo dela Victoria of Bantay Dagat in Talisay, that’s under the Province, and she won’t take responsibility for it. At least I take responsibility here, I take steps. How about her, what step is she taking? That shows you we’re different,” the mayor said.
De la Victoria, chairman of the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission, was gunned down in April 2006 outside his residence in Talisay City. A policeman has been convicted of the crime.
As for the assistance the governor is offering, the mayor said it is his duty to accept help from anyone who can assist the City Government. (Garcia chairs the Regional Peace and Order Council.)
Osmeña said the policemen assigned at the La Nueva area and their superiors will have to answer for their lapses “because they let us down.”
The mayor is also not satisfied with the turnout of applications for subscription to the City’s alarm system.
There are a few applications, he said, but in a city where there are some 30,000 business establishments, he expects 500 to 1,000 subscriptions, especially high-risk financial and retail establishments. (JST/LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 17, 2007 issue)
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