Romana to quit if city also becomes a victim

CEBU, Philippines - If the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office will be victimized by burglars, Senior Supt. Noli Romana will resign immediately as city police chief.

Romana said that if it should happen, he will quit his post as Cebu City Police Office director because it would be such an embarrassment to him.

He made the statement following the burglary of the Toledo City Treasurer’s Office Sunday night that resulted to the loss of an estima-ted P1 million (not P6 million as earlier reported).

The Toledo City incident was the sixth to hit Cebu town or city treasurer’s offices the past weeks.

Romana said it is their job as police offi-cers to prevent things like the burglary to happen, as he assured the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office is well guarded.

He said that aside from the Civil Security Unit personnel and private security guards, the Cebu City Tourist Police headquarters is just near the City Hall.

Just last Friday, a Mandaue City worker was arrested for stealing a City Treasurer’s Office laptop. Early this month, Pinamungajan town lost P400,000 in collection.

In Compostela, unidentified perpetrators took P75,000 inside the Treasurer’s Office’s safe past 8 a.m. last August 26.

Before that P4,800 cash was stolen from the Carmen Treasurer’s Office after burglars entered the room by destroying the padlock.  The Sogod Treasurer’s Office was similarly victimized, losing over P56,000.

Following the series of burglaries, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday said he is meeting his security team to discuss how to further strengthen security of its coffers.

“I wish all should be security conscious,” he said, adding that everyone should exercise “eternal vigilance.”

Rama said he has been constantly reminding his security personnel to be honest if they want to remain in their jobs.

He said City Hall’s security plan must be implemented to prepare for possible attempts to victimize the city.

CCPO Intelligence Branch Chief Romeo Santander, though, said his office has not monitored any group of persons capable of staging a high-profile robbery or burglary in the city.

He, however, said that the possibility that attempts would be made cannot be ruled out, which is why those responsible for City Hall’s security should not be complacent. (FREEMAN)