EPD takes up cudgels for bank clients

The Eastern Police District (EPD) has tightened security in commercial centers as it declared an “all-out war” against gangs robbing people withdrawing large sums of cash from banks.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz ordered the chiefs of police of San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Marikina to be with their men on streets, especially at checkpoints and chokepoints, to intensify campaign against criminals, 

He also ordered intelligence units to identify policemen suspected of aiding robbery gangs so they could be “relieved and thrown outside his command.”

At least four incidents of bank clients being robbed were recorded by the EPD in the first quarter of the year, among them the murder of businessman Benito Tan in San Juan City and the robbery last week of Gatdiwa and Constancia Paz in Pasig City. Robbers took P2 million from Tan and P500,000 payroll money from the Paz couple.

De la Cruz said the police suspect the Doce Pares gang, allegedly headed by former policeman Joel Tapec, as being behind some of the robberies, although other groups were being investigated.

The EPD director said they are closely watching a number of “scalawags” in his command. He warned his police chiefs of grave consequences should they fail to curb robberies of bank clients in their areas.

 “They are doing very well in the fight against criminality until these bank client robbery incidents came up,” he said.

De la Cruz expressed dismay that his chiefs,  who are products of either the Philippine Military Academy or the Philippine National Police Academy,  would be “outwitted” by robbers.

De la Cruz said they would also study suggestions to provide police security for clients withdrawing large amounts of money from banks in the EPD’s area of responsibility.

“We are very willing to provide police security for bank clients who ask for it,” said De la Cruz, noting that they would fully implement such a plan if it is proven effective in the fight against robbery gangs.