Dad calls for double vigilance vs. crimes

With the ASEAN Summit on its way, a city councilor is supporting the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry in its call for authorities to augment measures to prevent criminal syndicates from proliferating in the city.

In a proposed resolution, Councilor Arsenio Pacaña called on the authorities "to double their vigilance to prevent criminal syndicates and kidnap-for-ransom group from operating in the city and using the airport and other port areas as their facility to commit crimes."

Pacaña's resolution was triggered by the arrest of four armed men at the Mactan Cebu International Airport last Sunday. The arrest of the suspects allegedly botched an operation to kidnap a foreign national.

However, despite the foiled attempt, CCCI is calling on authorities to double their efforts in clearing the city of kidnappers "as it may be true that kidnappers are trying again to operate in the city after unsuccessful operations in the past years."

Pacaña said the incident last Sunday also raised concerns over the airport security considering that Cebu will host the ASEAN Summit come December 11 to 14. This concern is even bolstered by the fact that the four suspects were released on bail the other day.

"The release on bail of the four suspected kidnappers further bolsters the call for police authorities to double their vigilance to prevent criminal syndicates from operating in the city or using the airport and other port areas as their facility to commit crimes," Pacaña said.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has already allocated P50,000 for any information about the suspects. Osmeña believes that the presence of the armed men, allegedly to kidnap a foreign national, is a "very dangerous situation" because the group could be capable of criminal acts of "higher sophistication".

Noting that the suspects' vehicle and firearms were reportedly not mere surplus weaponry, Osmeña said the city government is now taking aggressive measures to identify the group's local contacts.

Seized from Jessie and Ronald Pepino, Crisologo Puson, and Richard Orayan were two 45-caliber pistols, a 5.56-millimeter baby Armalite, four long magazines and two short magazines. A gray Mazda was also recovered from the suspects.

Their arrest was one of the scenarios that the mayor fears could happen in the upcoming ASEAN Summit, prompting him to reiterate his call for the public and the business sector to understand why there is a need to declare the summit a holiday. - Joeberth M. Ocao