TRS chief to theft victims: Full cooperation needed to catch, jail suspects

CEBU, Philippines - The chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office is again asking victims of theft and robbery incidents to cooperate with the police, not just in the filing of cases, but also during follow-up investigations.

Senior Inspector Rolito Supatan, TRS chief, said there are processes during their follow-up investigations that they would need the presence of the victims. Supatan explained that without the victims, the investigation would be hampered.

Supatan mentioned the incident involving a first year college student who lost P20,000 cash intended for her tuition fee to alleged Salisi Gang members, including a little girl who was the one who took the victim's bag inside a fastfood chain along Colon Street, Cebu City earlier this month.

He said they still cannot trace the identity of the suspects since they only saw the footage of the closed circuit television camera through a cellphone recording.

Supatan explained that they cannot oblige the establishment to show them the CCTV footage itself, which is clearer, since they are required to present a court order.

Supatan said they even pleaded to the management of the fastfood chain if they could view the footage even once so they can determine if they already have a record of the culprits.

"Pero di man mohatag kay mangayo gyud og court order," said Supatan.

Supatan added that the court order should be requested by the victims themselves, and in this case, the 17-year-old victim did not do so.

"Dapat, mo-cooperate jud unta," said Supatan.

Supatan, said though there are also business establishments that would let them view the footage even without a court order and hopes they would get the same cooperation from other establishments.

"Ang ato unta nga makakita ta dayon sa footage, maka-follow-up dayon ta. Kay basi'g wala pa nakalayo unta ang suspetsado ba," said Supatan.

On the other hand, Supatan said prevention is still better than cure and the public should always be mindful of their valuables, even inside malls or restaurants.

"Kahibawo baya ka anang malls or kan-anan nga daghan og tawo. Lipat-lipaton lang ka," said Supatan. (FREEMAN)