Business sector told to intensify security

CEBU, Philippines - Police authorities in Cebu City have called on the business sector to put in place security measures in the wake of successive robberies taking place in Mindanao recently.

In a crime prevention seminar attended by representatives of over 30 establishments in the uptown area, Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, chief of Fuente Police Station, told establishment owners to tighten their security to preempt any robbery.

Bastes said their counterparts in Cagayan de Oro City alerted them over the series of robberies in Mindanao.

“So maghimo ta og mga proactive measures para ma-preempt ning mga robbery groups na nangita lang og higayon para mo-pull out ug robbery. So ato gi-advice ang mga establishment owners to conduct target hardening,” Bastes said.

According to police, target hardening means making it hard for the robbers to penetrate their target.

Financial institutions, Bastes said, should be more security conscious these days.

“May ug June, daghan gyud nang mga tulisan kay tingbayad sa tuition, ting-enrol,” said Bastes, who used to head the Theft and Robbery Section, suggesting that establishments should install close circuit cameras.

Those who attended the seminar were security officers of different banks, pawnshops, and moneychangers within the area of responsibility of Fuente Police Station. Bastes said there are six barangays under his watch and just along Fuente Osmeña Circle, there are already several establishments, mostly financial institutions.

Bastes said they received intelligence reports two weeks ago that a robbery group from Mindanao entered the city, but it was not verified until now.

The Fuente police chief said they will again conduct a seminar next week for food chain owners.

At their weekly Police Integrated Patrol System meeting, Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Ramon Buenafe encouraged other police stations to also hold crime prevention seminar.  (FREEMAN)