EDITORIAL – Perfecting the art of robbery

Has there been a problem with regards to the sharing of information between the police offices and stations in Metro Cebu? This question has surfaced following last week's daring daylight heist reportedly pulled off by the Bohol Robbery Group near the City Hall.

Before the high-profile robbery, the media had reported about the plan on a series of robberies in the city. The plan was reportedly squealed by four alleged robbers earlier arrested by the Lapu-Lapu City police for gun possession.

But despite the media reports, the robbers pushed through with their plot, swooping down on an armored van loaded with over P3 million in a swift and precise robbery execution not seen in recent months.

What brings a shame to the police was that the heist happened in a place where security should have always been tight since it is near the central figure of the Catholic faith and the seat of the Cebu City government. Not to mention the satellite palace of the president of the republic.

Following the robbery, the leadership of the Lapu-Lapu City police had been quick to announce that it has disseminated the report on the planned robbery to other police offices in Metro Cebu. But whether the Cebu City police received the report no one can ever tell.

Granting that the Cebu City policemen have indeed received the report on the planned robbery, we don't like to presume that they just sat on it waiting for somebody to confirm its veracity. But whether the report was raw or verified, they should have regarded it with the highest priority.

Metro Cebu has become the favorite target for robbery groups as it evolves into the country's hub of commerce outside Metropolitan Manila. Gangs from neighboring provinces and Mindanao have made their mark cashing in on the seemingly lax security implemented by some local establishments.

From the remnants of the Kuratong Baleleng to the Rey Torres-Danny Limotan Robbery Group to the Bohol Robbery Group, notorious groups seemed to have perfected the art of robbery in Metro Cebu out of the seemingly laidback and uncoordinated security adopted by the police forces.