Street cops not really a deterrent: PRO-7 chief says intelligence lapses allowed robberies

No matter how many policemen are on the streets, intelligence gathering is still an important key in crime prevention.

This as Police Regional Office-7 chief Silverio Alarcio Jr. admitted that intelligence lapses have resulted to the recent spate of robberies in Cebu.

Alarcio said, they need to really enhance their intelligence gathering to prevent robbery incidents especially during Cebu's hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December. Although the authorities have scored several times by having prevented robbery attempts and even killed robbers in hot pursuit operations, but these are not enough, he said.

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano shares the vi9ew of the region's top policeman and blamed the failure of the police intelligence in the Visayan Electric Company robbery in barangay Guizo Monday afternoon.

Ouano said, he already ordered Mandaue City Police Director Eduardo Catabas to solve the crime immediately. This time, no deadline has been given, but Ouano said he wants a report as soon as possible.

The city government of Mandaue also expressed its willingness to give financial assistance to beef up the intelligence efforts of the police for the immediate solution of the case. Ouano however did not give an exact amount because he will have to refer it first to the members of the city council.

"Full support ko sa pagbeef-up sa intelligence ug kon gikinahanglan mohatag ta," Ouano said.

Alarcio, in an interview over radio station DYLA, is urging the public and the local government officials especially those in the barangays to help them. He likewise urged the owners of establishment that are likely targets of the robbers to be cooperative with the police.

Alarcio said, victim of robberies should immediately report the crime.

He explained that police visibility has been strengthened, but it would be useless if the public will not inform them of the crimes that have taken place.

Alarcio also criticized the security measures of the VECO Mandaue extension office and urged establishments to beef up on security.

"There are weak points in the security measures of VECO," Alarcio said. He said that the security guard should not have opened the door to the woman, who pretended to be a customer as he said that the police has always been reminding business about security.

Alarcio said the investigation is still going on and refused to give information about suspects or leads they are following.

But, he said there is a possibility that the VECO robbery as well as the two other robberies in Cebu City last Saturday were pulled off by a group from outside of Cebu. Three armed men took an estimated P1.7 million in cash Monday afternoon from VECO billing office in barangay Guizo. The group responsible is believed to be from Ozamis City.

A woman, who is believed to be part of the group, lured the guard to open the door even if they were already closed. The woman alleged begged that she be allowed to get inside as her electric connection might be disconnected that day if she will not be able to pay her account.

After the guard opened the door for the woman, the three men, who were wearing uniforms of the utility firm and armed with pistols, immediately barged in and announced a hold-up.

The Mandaue City Police Office is now closely coordinating with their counterparts from Cebu City as they are working on a solution to the VECO robbery. Mandaue City Police Office Station 1 chief Abraham Ocampo escorted security guard Tomas Corpin, who was on duty at VECO Mandaue when the robbery took place, to go over the rogues gallery at the Theft and Robbery Section of Cebu City Police Office.

Corpin has identified one of the three in the PNP gallery, but P/SInsp. Ambrosio Ibones said it's too premature to identify the suspect's name and his whereabouts.

"Ato una ipa-verify para maklaro gyud kay ingon si Corpin mora susama ug dili kaayo siya sure. Kay kadtong picture gitudlo morag karaan nato in fact black and white pa, kun basihan nimo ang mga witnesses mga bag-ong ning mga nawong nibiktima sa VECO," Ibones said.

Corpin twice identified the man in the picture and told the police authorities "nga susama gyud niya ug nawong ang usa sa tulo ka tulisan".

Corpin was able to take a good look at the three robbers since they did not wear anything to cover their faces.

"Bisan unsay gusto sa pulis andam ko mo-kooperar para dili gyud sila magduda nga apil ko sa tuig. Bisan ipa-lie detector test ko nila walay koy problema kay limpyo ang akong konsyensya" Corpin added.

Corpin was the one who slightly opened the door of when the unidentified woman asked for assistance to pay her electric bill.

"Maglisod pa ta ug confirm kun kadto iyang gitudlo apil ba to pero susihon ug ato tong i-verify" Ocampo said.

Aside from Corpin, Ocampo said they are asking other VECO employees to undergo a lie detector test to avoid speculations that they connived with the robbers. For his part, Ibones said there is a big chance that robbers and some employees of VECO were conniving on the pattern initiated by robbers.

"Kun robbery gani planado gyud tanan unya impossibli kaayo nganong nasayod ang mga tulisan nga atong orasa maoy tig-ihap sa mga kuwarta. Daghang pang pangutanan angayan tubagon " Ibones said. Mayor Ouano said that the VECO robbery should be a lesson for financial institutions, including money changers, gasoline stations and the like, to employ tight security all day long. -- with Ramil V. Ayuman, Mitchelle Palaubsanon and Edwin Ian Melecio/NLQ