Mar orders PNP to immediately arrest mall robbers

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has ordered the police to work double time to identify and arrest the perpetrators of the SM North EDSA jewelry heist Sunday night.

Roxas also ordered the Philippine National Police to coordinate with mall owners to enhance the security of shopping areas during the Yuletide season.

Roxas instructed the PNP to increase police visibility in urban areas throughout the country as part of efforts to curb the possible increase of street crimes during the holidays.

"Dapat maging handa ang kapulisan para tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng mamamayan ngayong kapaskuhan," he said after a police command conference in Camp Crame.

Based on initial police investigation on the SM jewelry heist, the robbers bought the crowbar and hammer in a hardware store inside the mall which they used to smash the jewelry store’s glass frames.

The robbers reportedly took off with some P5 million worth of jewelry, using modus operandi similar to that of the "Martilyo Gang."

Roxas said there were lapses on the part of the mall’s security which allowed the suspects to execute what appears to be a well-planned heist.

He has asked PNP chief Director General Allan Purisima and Director Carmelo Valmoria, newly-appointed chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, to initiate a meeting with business owners and managers to ensure public safety in shopping areas and other public places.
           
Roxas is mulling  standardizing the number of security guards assigned in  malls based on the floor area and number of entrances and exits for security purposes.
     
He wants the PNP and mall owners to recommend measures to cover better security inside and outside shopping malls in the country, particularly in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities.

"Nagpatawag na ng pag-uusap si Director General Purisima kasama si Director Valmoria kasama ang mga may-ari at managers ng mga malls hindi lang sa Metro Manila kundi sa iba pang lugar para magkaroon ng close coordination at siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng publiko at ng mga negosyo," Roxas said.
           
Besides shopping malls, Roxas instructed the police to increase mobile and foot patrols in churches, markets, banks and other public places frequented by people during the holiday season.

Roxas also called on local government units to mobilize their barangay law enforcement units to help maintain peace and order.

Barangay law enforcement units are force multipliers and the PNP’s partner in the fight against crime, he said.

He said  the PNP must map out plans  to maximize police presence in areas prone to street crimes such as robbery-holdup, snatching and pick-pocketing.
           
He noted that the PNP’s anti-organized crime units should be on the look-out against big-time crime groups involved in armed robbery and kidnap-for-ransom that may also strike during the Yuletide season.