Valenzuela tightens bank security measures

The Valenzuela City police inspected the city’s 51 banks and held dialogue’s with bank officials to check the banks’ security measures.

City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said the initiative was prompted by the recent robbery that led to the death of 10 bank personnel in Cabuyao, Laguna.

“Valenzuela is an industrial city and is characterized by brisk trading and commercial activity. We do not wish the same tragedy (in Cabuyao to happen) on anyone. Certainly we do not want it to happen here,” he said as he ordered the police to be more vigilant.

The city’s last bank robbery took place over two years ago when a rural bank was victimized. A year before that, several armed men robbed another bank and killed one police officer and seriously wounded another.

Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, city police chief, said among other things, they inspected the banks’ physical security system.

They checked whether there are enough guards posted at each bank, if the guards are sufficiently equipped, whether the alarm system is functioning, and whether a closed-circuit television camera is installed.

The police and bank officials also discussed the banks’ proximity to police stations, police visibility, the presence of police vendors, parking areas and the positioning of motorcycle-riding police officers and patrol cars.      – Jerry Botial