CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Rey Gealon filed a resolution urging business establishments to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras following the most recent incident of robbery in Barangay Lahug.
Gealon's proposed resolution highlights the importance of CCTV footage in locating and identifying suspects of the crime.
"The installation of a closed circuit television (CCTV) in business establishments is of great importance so as to help prevent the commission of crimes," read Gealon's resolution.
On October 30, 2023, three men robbed a coffee shop in Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. The CCTV footage showed that the cashier of the said coffee shop was held at gunpoint and went viral on social media.
Two of the suspects were, however, caught and arrested while the remaining suspect surrendered before the Mabolo Police Station.
Following the incident, Gealon filed the said proposed resolution requesting the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to encourage their members to install CCTV with memory storage for at least 60 days in their business premises.
In a separate resolution with the same motivation, Gealon likewise requested the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) to encourage business owners to install CCTV in business premises.
“With the resurgence of theft and robbery incidents in and around the city, there is a need to reinvigorate our call for vigilance and pro-activism among our constituency,” said Gealon, in a statement released to the media.
According to Gealon, the installation of a functioning CCTV is pivotal in implementing security since business establishments “are prone targets of these crimes.”
“Like in the recent robbery, the CCTV footage was necessary and crucial in identifying the culprits and eventually solving the case leading to its successful prosecution,” he added.
The proposed measure will be among the agenda for discussion in tomorrow’s regular session of the City Council. — (FREEMAN)