Response to netizens’ clamor: CCPO deploying cops vs robbers in Happy Valley

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office has responded to concerns raised by netizens on alleged robbers preying on passing motorists in dimly-lighted Happy Valley Road at the boundary of Barangays Calamba and Guadalupe, by directing the Guadalupe Police Station to conduct checkpoints and intensify presence there.

Superintendent Romeo Santander, CCPO Intelligence Branch chief, said that even when there are really no incidents of robbery recorded so far in the area, they acted on the worry raised by one Sayie Alforque on her Facebook account.

Alforque warned her Facebook friends on alleged robbers who hold the motorists and taxi passengers at a gunpoint along Happy Valley Road.

“Kun mag-motor mo gunitan inyong motor unya kun modagan mo kay ila mong pusilon then kung mag-taxi daw mo. Wa ta kahibawo uban daw kay kaila ra nila ang mga taxi driver then ila mo ihunong didto sa ngitngit nga lugar dapit sa naay carwash,” Alforque wrote.

On her post last Monday night, she said this modus operandi is getting rampant especially with Christmas already drawing near.

Santander, though, said that in the past, they received reports on robberies in the area even months before Christmas.

“Even pagsugod sa klase, naay mga concerned citizens nga nang-text diri pero katong series (of incidents) gyud wala man magpa-blotter,” said Santander.

He said they already coordinated with Guadalupe Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area. The station, though, has not received any reports about robberies happening on Happy Valley Road.

Despite this, however, Santander said he, with authority from CCPO Acting Director Marciano Batiancela Jr., directed Guadalupe policemen to make their presence felt there.

“Wa pa miy basis what time mi mag-checkpoint kay wala pa mi record kung unsang orasa nga na-fall dihang dapita, kung unsang orasa nabiktima ang mga tawo diha,” Santander said.

His office, however, have already identified robbery personalities in the area, especially those at the Banawa area.

He agreed that the place Alforque referred to is indeed not so well-lighted, adding that he already advised the barangay to address this problem but no action was made so far.

In a separate interview, Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan said, they too, have not received reports on robbery incidents in Happy Valley, but added that someone called them to request for barangay tanods to be deployed there.

He said he will coordinate with Calamba officials so together they could attend to the problem on dimly-lighted portions of Happy Valley.

 Gacasan said he would also ask the Cebu City government for street lights to be installed in the place.

Santander advised the public to always report to the nearest police station whenever they get victimized by lawless elements so the police could record the incidents and act on them.  — (FREEMAN)