PIA Press Release
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

PNP-7, Cebu Bankers Club meets to thwart off robbery attempts during Sinulog celeb

CEBU CITY, January 11 (PIA) -- With all eyes focused on the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday, the police conducted a meeting with the Cebu Bankers Club for them to also institute the necessary security measures to thwart off possible robbery attempts, especially in areas outside the city.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations S/Supt. Louie Oppus disclosed that they had a meeting with the different bankers in Cebu as part of their security preparations for the Sinulog Festival.

Apart from Cebu City, other provinces have been placed on heightened alert status in support of the festivities. These include Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, Oppus said.

Although the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO 7 said they have not received any report on big-time robbery groups entering Cebu, Oppus said it is better to be prepared and to put in place the necessary measures to prevent any bank heist.

Cebu Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Patrocinio Commendador said that they are conducting a 24-hour checkpoint for the last two weeks now.

“There is one checkpoint for the south and one in the north and another police detachment is also established in the Transcentral Highway to filter and control the entry of dubious persons to Cebu City,” Commendador said.

Commendador also said he has ordered his men to conduct aggressive patrolling to ensure that peace and order is maintained during the Sinulog period.

Mandaue City Police Director S/Supt. Noel Gillamac likewise bared they are monitoring lodging houses in their area as most criminal elements would prefer to be in inconspicuous places.

“We are asking the public to be vigilant against supicious characters in their neighborhood because community vigilance is the key to success of crime prevention,” Gillamac said.

Lapulapu City Police Director S/Supt. Anthony Obenza on the other hand, said they are also strengthening their police visibility especially in tourist areas as a large influx of tourists are expected to come to Cebu during the Sinulog festivities. (PIA-Cebu)