Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Cop chief optimistic on ratings
POLICE Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. believes they deserve the top ranking in this year’s annual general inspection (AGI), despite the unsolved killings in Cebu City.
Alarcio told reporters yesterday that it is not only in Central Visayas that there are unsolved killings, as similar problems happen in other regions.
No superman
He said that rather than look at statistics, he would like to see how the vigilante-style killings are being handled.
“We’re not Superman. We do not know when things happen or who is behind it. We need witnesses to give us leads,” Alarcio said.
He also said they approach vigilante-style killings with the same vigor as in investigating other crimes, only that there are no witnesses to help them proceed in their investigation.
Acting Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador is also optimistic the city police will fare better in this year’s annual general inspection (AGI) conducted by Camp Crame.
Comendador said that in the last nine months he managed the CCPO, statistics continue to show a downtrend in crime volume, while crime solution efficiency improved.
He said that compared with the crime statistics in 2005 and 2006, there is at least 30 percent decrease in crime volume.
Deputy Inspectorate General Irving M. Malunda of the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) and vice chairman of this year’s AGI team, in an earlier interview, said the vigilante-style killings will be among issues they will be looking into at CCPO inspection.
Based on the updated records of the Homicide Section on vigilante-style killings, a total of 180 victims are listed.
The record included the killings of robbery suspects Brando Babao, 41; Rodulfo “Dupong” Atega Jr., 21; and Richard Arcis, alias Bulhog, 24.
Babao was gunned down last July 24 while board a taxicab along on McArthur Blvd. in Barangay Carreta, while Atega was killed last Sept. 4. He was inside a taxicab at the corner of Gen. Maxilom Ave. and D. Jakosalem St.
The two had just posted bail when the attack occurred.
Arcis was fatally shot last Sept. 9 shortly after walking out of San Nicolas Police Station, after he was questioned about a snatching incident.
They were all killed by motorcycle-riding men.
Comendador said he could not say whether the killings were carried out by vigilantes because no one showed up to own up the killings.
A comparative crime statistics report gathered by Sun.Star Cebu covering January to June this year showed that crimes against persons totaled 455 or a decrease of 27 cases from last year’s 482.
Physical injuries remain on top with 300 cases followed by 90 murder cases and 31 homicide cases.
There were 178 robberies, lower by 160 incidents compared with 338 last year.
Theft cases have significantly decreased with 509 cases or 56 percent compared with last year’s 913.
Theft cases for the first two quarters of this year numbered 404.
In the vigilante-style killings, Alarcio said there were instances that the guns used were the same, based on laboratory findings on recovered shells from crime scenes.
However, he said they cannot identify the gun owner because they have not recovered the weapon.
Unlike other crimes, the police face a blank wall on the summary executions because no one has come forward and even family members of victims did not cooperate.
Although the unsolved killings may affect their overall crime solution efficiency, Alarcio said their report showed a slight increase, a little over one percent, in crime solution.
He said that overall, the peace and order in the region is “very favorable,” considering the number of tourists and investors coming to the region.
He pointed out that the Peace and Security Assembly was held in Bohol because they found Central Visayas the “most peaceful region in the country today.”
“Every regional commander is optimistic about landing on top. We deserve it,” he said.
The PRO 7 landed in the top 10 among all regional offices in last year’s AGI.
Alarcio appealed to those who know something about the vigilante killings to approach their investigators and help them.
He assured that they want to solve the problem and that they put the same efforts in solving these cases.
Compared with past years, there were only three vigilante-style cases this year. (MEA/JST)
