Bataan police tightens watch on banks

BALANGA CITY, Bataan - The provincial police director here warned the province’s 12 police chiefs and two police group directors to exert all efforts in preventing the recurrence of bank robberies or face immediate relief from their posts.

Senior Superintendent Sahiron Salim told The STAR that police stations were ordered to increase police mobility and intelligence gathering in the commercial districts where banks are located.

The order came after the Bataan Development Bank, owned by former Vice Gov. Serafin Roman, was robbed of P2.3 million worth of cash and jewelry early in the morning last Friday.

Three well-dressed suspects reportedly checked in at Room 18 of a three-star hotel adjacent to the bank using fictitious names prior to the incident. They gained entry into the bank by destroying the galvanized iron roof of the two-story bank. They also reportedly used an acetelyn torch and bolt cutters to open the vault where the suspects took the cash amounting to P1.8 million and jewelry worth P500,000.

Salim said he sees no reason the police chiefs can’t conduct visibility operations when they are sufficiently provided with funds not only by the provincial police command but also by the cooperative local government units.

As preemptive measure, police mobile units are required to standby at the commercial districts and to conduct foot patrols between 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. when lawless elements usually strike, Salim said.