During mock robbery: Police quick to arrest robbers

CEBU, Philippines - It took less than 15 minutes for the police to arrest suspected robbers during a mock bank robbery yesterday morning.

The Regional Intelligence Division-7 held a bank robbery simulation in Fuente Osmeña to check how efficient the police force to respond to robbery incidents in the city.

In the simulation, the four suspected robbers boarded motorcycles as getaway vehicles after pulling off the robbery at 10:33 a.m. yesterday.  The robbery alarm was received by the Fuente Police Station few minutes after the supposed robbers fled from the area. The police station immediately relayed the information to the Mobile Patrol Group which alerted all its mobile units on patrol.

An “Oplan Universe” was immediately activated to intercept the fleeing suspects. Investigators from Fuente Police Station also arrived at the crime scene to gather more details about how the robbers look like to help the blocking forces identify them.

 At 10:44 a.m. or 11 minutes later, two of the robbers were arrested by beat patrol personnel along P. Del Rosario Street. The two other suspects were also arrested along 10:45 at the Ayala access road.

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas said the initial response of the police falls within the acceptable time limit.

“There’s always room for improvements as we go along, as we conduct these exercises. We look forward na masanay sila sa ganito,” Bañas said.

He said that the purpose of the exercise is to “test the reaction of the police in that kind of situation.”  He added that the simulation exercise is part of the police’s preparation for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit on August 22.—  (FREEMAN)