City, provincial police join forces vs.robbers

The city and provincial police have started to join forces in strengthening measures against bank robberies through a security workshop for members of the Cebu Bankers' Club next month.

Acting city police director Melvin Gayotin said the workshop was hatched yesterday during the club's monthly meeting that he and Cebu provincial police director Vicente Loot have attended.

Gayotin said the workshop was necessary to help bank management outline necessary measures during a robbery.

He explained that the police cannot blame banks because there is always a tendency to panic. To avoid this, he added, bank personnel should know what to do before, during, and after a robbery.

He said it is understandable that a state of shock enables bank employees to fail police questioning after a robbery, so it is necessary for them to know the immediate measures during such event.

This year, the East West Bank and a branch of Land Bank of the Philippines in Bogo town were robbed.

East West Bank has been robbed twice this year and authorities pointed to the Rey Torres robbery group as responsible for the first incident. The second incident was believed to have been carried out by the remnants his group.

In the case of the Land Bank Bogo heist, authorities have eyed a Mindanao-based group, whose mastermind remains at large, as the one behind the incident.

Police officials have acknowledged the need for more measures against bank robbers who have become more aggressive in their activities. - Ryan P. Borinaga