Cops meet with bank execs

In the wake of the P1.5 million Equitable-PCIBank robbery in Makati City last April 5, the police will meet with bank executives and personnel anytime this week to brief them on contingency measures to prevent and avoid future bank heists.

"Just like terrorism, the banks in Metro Manila should also go on heightened vigilance and implement more stringent security measures in their vicinity," said Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco.

Velasco said the robbers behind the latest bank heist and the two other bank robberies in Parañaque City early this year were taking advantage of the situation where police authorities are busy securing vital installations and crowded places prone to terrorist attacks.

He did not rule out the possibility that the series of bank heists are "politically-motivated" and was meant to put in bad light the "Strong Republic" as envisioned by President Arroyo.

"It could also be a diversionary tactic by some influential figures whose names are being implicated in anomalies and various issues," Velasco said in a statement.

The Metro Manila police chief did not name names but STAR sources said he was apparently referring to his mistah, controversial Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, the main figure in the Kuratong Baleleng rub-out case which the government revived recently.

Lacson has announced recently he is joining the presidential derby in the coming 2004 elections.

It was strongly believed that remnants of the Kuratong Baleleng Gang were behind the series of bank heists in Metro Manila, police said.

"The gang resumed its robbery operations after the government disbanded their rice smuggling racket in Mindanao," said The Star source, referring to remnants of the Kuratong Baleleng Gang.

The gang, he said, was "given" the rice smuggling racket by the Estrada administration as their "means of livelihood" and to stop them from engaging in criminal activities.

And because their source of income was obliterated, Velasco said the gang’s illegal activities usually intensifies a year before the elections, a clear indication that it is being used as fundraisers for some politicians.

"Bank authorities should at all times be in close contact with the PNP to ensure that no robbers could easily implement such illegal activities, especially now that the May elections is approaching," said Velasco. Likewise, Velasco asked bank officials to notify the police once they open on weekends so that they could provide adequate security and mobilize more police patrols in their vicinity.

According to Velasco, Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez, director of the Southern Police District (SPD) is working double-time to solve the Makati City bank robbery.

Three of the 30 heavily-armed suspects who stormed the bank located in the corner of Jupiter St., and Paseo de Roxas were already identified through the video footage taken from a security camera of the establishment.

Police are looking at the "inside job" angle because the robbers knew that the bank would open on a Saturday. – Non Alquitran