New PRO-7 chief formally takes over

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 has a new director as Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, former deputy director of comptrollership in Camp Crame, officially assumed office yesterday.

In a related development, police arrested four men who robbed and injured three Korean nationals in Barangay Mabolo last week.

At the regional headquarters, Constantino said that to ensure core functions of crime prevention and solution can, the use of available technology is important.

He assured to continue the implementation of the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) which he jointly crafted with former PRO-7 director Marcelo Garbo Jr.

Garbo is now director of the National Capital Region Police Office.

“Through the implementation of PIPS, we deny lawless elements of the opportunities to execute their criminal intents and at the same time, we will be able to eliminate the instrument of crimes in the streets,” Constantino said in his speech.

He also assured that the police will strictly adhere to the basic tenets of human rights with emphasis on police operational procedures.

Constantino plans to equip all tourist police with knowledge  and skills to perform their tasks better as he sees that the police force could be “an exponent of development in the tourism industry” as Cebu is among the top tourist destinations in the country.

In terms of technology, Constantino will embark on using available technology in crime prevention like the geographical information system-based crime analysis.

This enables the police to store and configure data of hazardous areas, monitor crime incidents, detail responding teams, analyze crime trends and generate graphs that may be used in crime prevention.

“We will start in Cebu City as pilot area and before my stint ends we will be able to expand the system in the whole region,” Constantino said.

He added that he will not compare himself with his predecessors as they have their own unique capabilities.  He will give appropriate award and recognition to deserving personnel but will be strict in giving discipline.

Deputy Chief PNP for Administration, Deputy Director General Ager Ontog Jr. was the guest of honor and speaker in yesterday’s ceremony. He also served as PRO-7 director on 2011.

Ontog asked the local government unit and the community to support Constantino.

For his part, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III welcomed the new PRO-7 chief and assured support. Davide, though, had said he preferred somebody from Cebu as the head.

“It was only my personal view nga from Cebu but I prefer a man of integrity,” Davide said.

Meanwhile, police arrested four men who robbed and injured three Korean nationals last week in Barangay Mabolo.

Suspects Juan Ramirez, 25; Anthony Miyahira, 25; Arturo Mori, 30; and Genis Ermitanio, 18, were arrested in a shanty in Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe last Wednesday afternoon.

Theft and Robbery Section chief William Alicaba said that the three firearms and drug paraphernalia were also seized form the suspects, who were gathering in the shanty and believed to be done having pot session when they were arrested at past 2 pm.

Alicaba said they received information that the suspects, residents and habal-habal drivers in sitio Kalubihan, Banawa, narrated to some neighbors that they shot the Koreans in last July 23’s robbery incident in Mabolo.

“Saba daw na’ sila human makatira, mura’g magfiesta. Manghinambog nga ang Korean nahagba,” said Alicaba.

Operatives from the TRS, City Intelligence Branch led by Senior Insp. Keith Allen Andaya and Investigation and Detective Management Branch led by Chief Insp. Aileen Recla proceeded to the area and arrested the suspects.

The suspects, Alicaba said, admitted to shooting Korean nationals Choi Soon Chul, 22, and Heo Yekang, 27. The victims tried to fight the suspects who robbed the bag of their companion, Anna Cho, also a Korean national.

“Si Ramirez ang una nipusil unya wa kabuto iyang armas. Si Mori dayon ang nitira, giusban og kablit ni Ramirez ug nibuto na ug nangaigo ang duha ka-Koreano,” said Alicaba, as confessed by the suspects.  (FREEMAN)