Bank refuses to yield TV tapes

The investigation into the shooting of Far Eastern University varsity player Mac Baracael hit a snag yesterday after the security personnel of the Philtrust Bank refused to furnish the police the tapes of the bank’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

Philtrust Bank officials had earlier assured the investigators that they would cooperate in the probe of the slay try by providing the police the CCTV tapes which may have recorded the shooting incident.

But the investigators returned empty-handed after a certain Robert Mendoza, reportedly the operations assistant of Philtrust security department, refused to allow the police to view the tapes.

“There is nothing significant on the tapes,” Mendoza allegedly told the investigators. He added that the bank agreed not to allow its viewing “for security reasons.”

“We don’t care even if it’s an order from Mayor (Alfredo Lim). I am just performing my job,” SPO3 Richard Lumbad quoted Mendoza as saying.

Lim had directed investigators to join hands with the Sampaloc police to probe Baracael’s shooting and arrest the culprit immediately.

“Why are they adamant to allow the review of the tapes? Are they trying to hide something?” said Homicide head Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr.

“What security reasons are they talking about when the CCTV  camera is focused outside the bank premises,” Arevalo said.

According to Lumbad, the bank officials said they had reviewed the tapes but found nothing connected with  the shooting incident.

However, Lumbad insisted that they only need to view a portion of the tapes, particularly in between 8 to 10 p.m. – Nestor Etolle