Tiñgas alarmed over upsurge of crimes in Taguig City

MANILA, Philippines - The Tiñga camp yesterday expressed concern that residents of Taguig are becoming wary of what it called an “upsurge of crime incidents” in the city.

The statement came after they noticed that several carjacking and robbery incidents took place this month – the carjacking of the vehicles of former foreign affairs secretary Roberto Romulo and a Japanese trader and the shooting of a wife of a barangay official.

”Concerned residents are apprehensive that the breakdown in peace and order in Taguig is a result of lack of governance and inaction on the part of Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano, which has embol­dened criminals in their nefarious activities,” the statement read.

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Dante Tiñga is one of the staunchest rivals of Cayetano in the May 10 elections. His son, Sigfrido, is the city’s former mayor and is the incumbent congressman.

City administration officer-in-charge Joel Montales dismissed the Tiñgas’ fears as “without basis.”

”It’s not true that the crime rate is rising. The chief of police submitted to us it is even below compared the past administration. There’s no basis for that statement,” Montales told The STAR over the phone.

He added that Romulo’s case is an isolated one as because “as you’ve heard in the news it was carried out by a syndicate operating in the whole of Metro Manila.”

Taguig City police Chief Senior Superintendent Camilo Cascolan echoed Montales’ views.

In a phone interview, Cascolan said the number of crimes this month is comparably lower compared to the same period last year or even last month.

”There is nothing to worry (about),”Cascolan told The STAR. “The crime rate is lower. As of end of this month we had only recorded 105 index crimes.” 

Index crimes refer to activities such as murder, robbery, theft, and carjacking, said Cascolan.

Meanwhile, to ensure peace and order, Montales said the local government will beef up barangay security forces and will request for additional police forces in the city.