Reyes to meet Batangas traders on crime woes

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes will meet today with businessmen based at the Batangas Bay International Port to discuss their complaints about rampant extortion, hijackings and pilferages, among other crimes, that have resulted in losses of about some P100 million for them.

Reyes, chief of the National Anti-Crime Task Force, will hold the dialogue with executives of multinational and local companies engaged in power, petro and oleo-chemicals, food manufacturing, shipbuilding, and bulk and warehouse terminals.

In a letter to Reyes, members of the Batangas Industrial Security Alliance (BISA) complained that hijacking syndicates have virtually taken control of businesses.

"(The) business climate in Batangas has turned from friendly to hostile. (Syndicates) have slowly (taken) control of the ancillary business spurred by the presence of domestic and multinational companies around Batangas Bay," BISA spokesman Sergs Sarno said.

BISA is an association of security managers of domestic and multinational companies overseeing the security of products transported from the port.

Reyes earlier sent Senior Superintendent Danilo Servando and Superintendent Mario de la Vega to coordinate with Senior Superintendent Don Montenegro, Batangas police director, to act on the businessmen’s problems.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao, for his part, has reactivated the Anti-Hijacking Task Force to address the problem.

Reyes encouraged businessmen to come forward and file complaints with the PNP, which he directed to constantly monitor the activities of syndicated crime groups.

Reyes also directed the Batangas police to assign, if necessary, security escorts to delivery trucks to prevent pilferage or hijacking.

He said checkpoints should also be put up and police visibility should be beefed up through foot and mobile patrols.