Rama keeps his cool amid series of crimes

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is not alarmed with the reported series of shooting and stabbing incidents in the city, the most recent one being the killing of a lawyer’s son.

This as he commended the performance of Cebu City Police Office director Noli Romana in securing the city, including its major events, since the police official took his post in August last year.

Rama, in a press conference yesterday, said that based on the investigation of police, the crimes that transpired recently were not patterned and the motives varied.

 â€œMa-alarma ‘ta kung na-pattern ang mga insidente,” said Rama when asked for his comment over the five shooting incidents that has happened in the city since last week, including the killing of a lawyer’s son in Barangay Sambag Dos.

 The fatal shooting of Richard Seno, son of lawyer and labor leader Cecilio Seno, is actually part of the “spectrum of a highly-urbanized” area, said Rama.

The shooting incident in Dalaguete town that killed lawyer Noel Archival, a resident of Cebu City, is apparently a work of a gun-for-hire too, he said.

While these are not yet alarming, Rama said he has directed Romana to enhance CCPO’s measures in preventing and preempting crimes.

 This, Rama said, would include increasing police visibility in the streets of Cebu City, conducting random checkpoints, installing security cameras in major thoroughfares, employing security guards, involving barangay officials and engaging the community to be vigilant.

 Considering the gap in population-to-police ratio in Cebu City, authorities have said that it is really difficult to watch over everybody.

 Rama further said that the security assessment should be based on huge events, such as the Christmas and New Year seasons and the recent Sinulog Festival, the city’s observance of which was generally peaceful and orderly.

 The mayor said Romana is doing a great job in keeping Cebu City peaceful in general, although he said there is still room to improve.

 â€œWe still need to address the problem on illegal drugs,” Rama pointed out.

 Since February 10, at least six shooting and stabbing incidents have been reported in the different areas of Cebu City, with five people killed.  (FREEMAN)