CEBU, Philippines — As part of their aim to make Mandaue City free and safe from criminal activities, the city government will soon have a reward system for those who can provide information about crime-related incidents in their area, said Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.
In his press conference, Quisumbing told reporters that this was decided during his meeting with the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) last week.
He has yet to discuss the matter with Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Roberto Alanas and the city director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Both bodies authorized me and the DILG city director to access our confidential funds para sa mga rewards. With regards to how much, and the mechanism, I have to sit down with our City Director this week to work out the mechanics, aron ma- klaro na gyud kung pila ato mahatag and unsaon nato ang mechanism to authorize it,” Quisumbing said.
The use of the intelligence funds or confidential funds will be strict, Quisumbing noted, who added that this is under the new regulation of the DILG in order to be not subjected to abuses.
Aside from the giving of rewards for anti-drug operation and its initiatives, the intelligence funds that Quisumbing have stated will also be useful for backing up the intelligence gathering of the city’s law enforcement group.
This will also be useful for the anti-criminality and anti-terrorism initiatives considering that one of the two minors of the six reported members of New People’s Army (NPA) arrested by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Negros Oriental last March 3 was a resident of the city.
“We will also be able to use it for criminality and terrorism which is especially important now considering that we’ve heard the news that one of the minors that were arrested in Negros by the AFP was from Mandaue City. So we will be able to access the confidential funds to be able to sort of strengthen our intelligence gathering,” Quisumbing said.
Once the mechanisms of the giving of reward and its paperwork are settled, Quisumbing said they can go through it next week.
“As early as next week. We just have to issue some paperwork to the DILG ‘nya last week ra baya atong CPOC. As soon as we are able to send the paperwork to DILG, we’re good to go,” he said.
Killed in Lapu-Lapu
Meanwhile, at least two persons were shot by unidentified assailants in separate incidents in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.
Eduardo Bering, 38, and Aldrin Paquibot, 26, suffered gunshot wounds on their bodies that caused their death, according to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO)- Homicide Section.
Senior Police Officer 1 Lydo Pinos, case investigator, said that Bering was drinking with his friends at the back of a sari-sari store at Purok Beauty in the Sky, in Barangay Babag, when two men on board a motorcycle shot the victim at around 12:30 a.m.
Bering’s niece, Orquisa Mendoza, 21, told police that she heard at least three gunshots and found her uncle being shot by one of the assailants.
The motive has yet to be known as the case is being investigated.
Pinos, on the other hand, added that the victim’s relatives told police that the gunmen wore black jackets.
At least two cartridges and a fired bullet were recovered from the crime scene.
Two hours after, another man was gunned down in Mantawe Road, Barangay Poblacion, according to SPO1 Luisito Ernie of the LCPO- Homicide Section.
Aldrin Paquibot, 26, a resident of Siton Gemelina of Barangay Poblacion, was shot by unidentified gunmen around 2:30 a.m.
In the investigation, the police learned that Paquibot was walking along Mantawe Road when unknown assailants appeared behind him and shot him on the different part of his body including his chest and belly.
At least six fired cartridges were found at the crime scene.
Paquibot was sent to LLCH but was declared dead on arrival.
Police have yet to find the cause behind the incident has yet to be determined as police are investigating this crime. (FREEMAN)