Guest robs pension house

CEBU, Philippines - A pension house in Barangay Kalubihan was robbed of its more than P12,000 earnings by one of its guests last Friday night.

The management of Citiview Pension House tagged its regular customer, Radney Ilustrisimo, as the one who allegedly robbed its cashier, Alice Rondina, 38, of their P12,200 earnings that day.

PO2 Kenneth John Gaquin of the Theft and Robbery Section said that the suspect together with his live-in partner and their child checked in at the pension house last Monday. The suspect informed the front desk at past 8 pm last Friday that they are already checking out.

The suspect waited at the front desk while the room is being checked for clearing purposes. It was during that time that the cashier was also doing an inventory of the pension house’s earnings of the day.

The suspect allegedly pointed a knife at the cashier and declared a holdup. Ilustrisimo took the cash box and disappeared. Gaquin said that the cashier thought at first that the suspect was just pulling her leg as he was a regular customer in the pension house.

The incident was captured by the security camera inside the pension house.

Meanwhile, Labangon barangay officials will buy at least four Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to be installed in crime-prone areas of the barangay.

Barangay Captain Victor Buendia said they are planning to install the wireless CCTV cameras at the intersections of Katipunan and Salvador Streets and in some other places where people usually gather.

The Labangon Barangay Council is asking the City Council to allow the installation of some of the cameras at the traffic light posts. The city council has referred the request to the City Traffic Operations Management.

The barangay officials hope that the CCTV cameras will help deter crimes and ensure the safety and security of the people in the barangay. It was at the intersection of Katipunan and Salvador Streets that Ananias Dy, a witness of the House committee on dangerous drugs who accused his former employers of drug trafficking, was shot in July 2006.

Cebu City acting police director Mariano Natuel admitted that the installation of CCTV cameras will deter the criminals from committing crimes.

Several business establishments in Cebu City have already installed their own security cameras within their respective premises. — Niña G. Sumacot and Rene U. Borromeo/FPL (FREEMAN)