PRO-7 upset over series of robberies

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office–7 expressed disappointment over the series of robberies in Cebu despite the constant reminder for police units to be cautious of criminal elements.

 Regional Intelligence Division chief Superintendent Paul Labra said that the regional police headquarters did not lack efforts on reiterating to the police station commanders and their personnel on what to do in battling illegal activities.

 “Among senior officers sa regional headquarters wa na makauyon ug wa na malipay sa mga nahitabo. Along the way, aduna gyu’y problema,” he said.

He added that they even have implemented anti-criminality programs that the police units should follow to facilitate their operations.

 PRO-7 deputy regional director for operations Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa called for a conference this morning among intelligence officers to look into the profiles of the persons of interest and discuss the information they have gathered about the suspect being tagged as responsible in recent series of robbery incidents in Cebu.

 Labra cited the comprehensive deployment system that aims to enhance the deployment of police personnel to areas being assessed.

He pointed out the regional headquarters seemed to be upset since this system was not seriously taken by the lower units.

 “Probably because na-busy sa ubang activites sa mga miaging adlaw pero dili unta siya mao ang reason. Motrabaho gyud unta,” he said.

 He added that the operations and intelligence officers should do their job in assessing the incidents and submit a recommendation to their station chief so resolution could be made to address the problem.

 Labra said that based on the interrogation reports they have conducted among the arrested robbers in large-scale heists, they revealed that they sustain their operations on big-time robberies by robbing from smaller establishments especially if they do not have a financier who would support their operational funds.

In the conference, Labra said that they will discuss what really occurred during the successive heists and check the relationship of the suspect in notorious robbery groups.

 Last Wednesday, the Route Stop Convenience Store along M. Velez Street, Barangay Guadalupe was robbed by two unidentified men. The robbers took away P23,000 and three mobile phones, one of which had at least P11,000 worth of electronic load.

 A day before the incident, P20,000 cash was also taken from 7-Eleven convenience store in Barangay Duljo Fatima.

 It could also be remembered that Vhenz Petron Gasoline Station along N. Bacalso Avenue, Barangay San Nicolas Proper, Cebu City was also robbed last Saturday. The robbers who pretended to be customers took away P4,800 and immediately fled from the area onboard two motorcycles.

 Two armed men also took P22,000 cash from an outlet of Alberto’s Pizza along Pelaez Street, Barangay San Antonio, Cebu City last October 28.  (FREEMAN)