Thieves in 3 town halls armed and dangerous?

“Poverty is the mother of crime.” Marcus Aurelius

By Alex P. Vidal

THE thieves who recently ransacked the treasurer's offices of the municipalities of Ajuy, Concepcion and San Dionisio and carted away cash and valuables, could be members of a robbery gang operating in the fifth district of Iloilo.

Based on their boldness and blazing attacks, they were probably organized and not just ordinary bandits.

They must have been operating by a group and their actions were well-coordinated and well-planned.

If the robberies occurred simultaneously during the weekend, it’s hard to establish that they were inside jobs unless evidence will prove otherwise.

But police investigators must not stop on one angle alone.

They must subject the security guards assigned in these municipalities in a thorough investigation.

Did they sleep on their job? Or they were part of the heists?

If a large amount of cash stashed away during the robberies were kept in the vaults of those offices before the incidents, it becomes a big question mark.

DEPOSIT

Treasurer offices are supposed to deposit them in the bank by Friday unless prevented by circumstances.

Now that municipal halls have become the new and favorite targets of robbers who operate after office or during weekend, other municipalities must now start tightening up their security for precautionary measures.

It is possible that the culprits were able to study the physical lay-outs of their target municipal halls days or weeks before launching the attack.

Other potential targets in that district are the municipalities of Anilao, Barotac Viejo, Banate, Sara, Balasan, Batad, Carles and Estancia.  

CCTV gadgets must be installed in their surroundings.

The robbers must have used one or two get away vehicles.

MONITOR

Their movements can be monitored by active CCTVs.   

After the recent triple robberies, police and municipal authorities can’t afford to be lax.

They should start to be suspicious with individuals who saunter their premises without any official business.

It is possible that the robbers are armed and dangerous. They could be capable of staging a burglary in residential houses and hostage members of the households.

They can actually be collared in authorized police checkpoints.

Citizens and barangay officials must also do their share in helping nip in the bud those criminal elements.

An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. The League of Municipalities-Iloilo headed by Barotac Viejo Mayor Neil Tupas III and the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) led by Supt. Cornelio Salinas will have their hands full.

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BONIFACIO DRIVE TRAFFIC SNARL. Traffic on Bonifacio Drive, City Proper continued to worsen even during holidays (meaning no classes and no offices).

The road widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from the foot of the Forbes Bridge to the Iloilo Baptist Church (in front of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol) is only actually half way.

As of this writing, it is only in the vicinity of the overpass (in front of the Department of Tourism regional office).

Bulldozers and other heavy equipment continued to repair a small portion of the road yet the work has produced a monstrous traffic.

START

The traffic snarl started two weeks ago when vehicles from the districts of La Paz and Jaro were choked as they approached the bridge.

Vehicles from the City Proper going to the districts of Jaro and La Paz were also jammed as they negotiated the Bonifacio Drive from the intersection of Gen. Luna Street and Fermin Caram Sr. Avenue (Iznart Street).

The only solution actually is to declare the area as “one-way” or only for vehicles going to the route of the City Proper while the DPWH project is not yet finished. 

Those going to the districts of La Paz and Jaro may use the road in the back of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

As simple as that, yet it seems nobody is giving a damn from the authorities concerned.