QC cops, transport groups join forces to fight robbers

The Quezon City Police District has joined hands with transport groups to prevent the occurrence of robberies in public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Superintendent Bernabe Balba, QCPD Intelligence Division chief, said they are particularly looking into major thoroughfares where there are areas that could serve as possible lairs for robbery groups.

“Most of the time, the suspects board the PUVs at a portion (of a major thoroughfare), declare the heist and then get off at a portion of the road where they have their comfort zone,” Balba told The STAR in a recent interview.

Data provided by Balba showed that these areas include parts of Quezon Avenue near Barangay West Triangle, Barangay Paligsahan, Banawe Avenue in Barangay Tatalon, and Araneta Avenue; Banlat Road near Barangay Tandang Sora; the corner of Susano Road and Austria Street in Barangay Novaliches Proper; portions of Aurora Boulevard near 20th Avenue in Barangay Socorro, and in Barangay Horseshoe; EDSA in Barangay South Triangle; the corner of Timog Avenue and Tomas Morato; and portions of E. Rodriguez Boulevard in Barangay Concepcion, and near Barangay Mariana.

Figures show that at least one robbery occurred in each of these areas last month, victimizing passengers of jeepneys, taxi cabs, or FX taxis.

These were also among the areas where robberies occurred last December, along with other areas like the corners of G. Araneta Avenue and Retiro street, Tendido and Dome streets, A. Bonifacio Road and Mayon Avenue, Aurora Boulevard and Balete Drive in Barangay Kaunlaran; Tandang Sora Avenue near Quirino Highway; and Gilmore Street in Barangay Horseshoe.

As part of efforts to avert these incidents, QCPD director Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula has directed the commanders of all the stations of the QCPD to have at least one apprehension every month and do saturation drives in areas to determine whether these are actual lairs of criminal groups.

Balba added that the QCPD has also called a meeting with various transport groups to exchange awareness and statistics on these crime incidents.

He said stickers will soon be posted inside PUVs to inform passengers about hotline numbers they could call in case of robberies. 

They also intend to utilize the radio systems in some taxicabs plying the city, he said.

He said non-uniformed police personnel would also be deployed as “bus or jeepney marshalls” who will discreetly mix with passengers.

Balba said police officers will also be deployed along major thoroughfares, and drivers could approach them if suspect that a robber had already boarded their vehicle.

He also said they have even encouraged the “profiling of regular passengers” at established terminals to monitor if possible robbers are about to board a certain PUV.