By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol ChronicleCity Mayor Dan Lim yesterday warned police characters in the city even as he allayed fears of any organized crime groups operating here.
However, the mayor said he is not taking chances as he vowed to target Sept. 1 as Day One of his relentless campaign against criminalities following the killing of Jack Arat, 30, marketing/sales executive of Bohol Tropics Resort Club who was gunned down in cold blood last Monday dawn in front of his residence along JS Torralba Street, this city. Earlier, three shooting incidents in Mansasa district, this city, claimed the life of an innocent tricycle driver identified as Jemuel Adanza y Liquigan.
Starting Sept 1, Mayor Lim wants night spots to close by 12 midnight together with the strict imposition of the liquor ban by 10 p.m. for those without licenses as given to tourist-related establishments like hotels.
The statement of the mayor made the public expect that City Hall will revoke selling of liquor in 24-hour stores as well as sari-sari stores in the barangays. He wants a barangay level imposition of the liquor ban. The 12-midnight closure of night spots will include the “Sky’s The Limit†barbecue corners in the city.
Together with this is the strict imposition of curfew on minors starting at 10 o’clock in the evening.
Internet cafes will also be closely monitored and will eventually be asked to limit their business hours.
Habal-habal drivers will be checked especially those who are not owners of motorcycles but are merely renting the bikes to operate until wee hours in the morning.
In order to carry out these concrete measures, he will create monitoring team in each of the 15 barangays which will operate on its own aside from the regular barangay tanods.
SUSPECTS IDENTIFIEDMayor Lim said the police now closely follows up a short list of suspects in the murder of Arat. Immediately upon his arrival from the United States, Lim issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the city PNP to identify and arrest the suspect.
Arat, who doubles as event organizer, was gunned down in front of his residence after he alighted from his car. He came from an event he organized in Dauis town when the lone gunman poked a firearm on him. Arat tried to resist causing the suspect to shot him. He was rushed to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital with a lone gunshot wound. He died four hours later.
The suspect carted P15,000 cash from Arat believed to be proceeds of the show he produced in Dauis town that evening. Police theorized robbery was the motive behind the Arat murder.
Meanwhile, police continues to investigate three incidents where armed man barged into establishments at night. Victimized were Buen Villa Pension House, Borja Hospital and Tagbilaran Puericulture Center. The guards on duty were either sleeping or out of their job sites when the armed man entered the establishments. A 9mm service revolver was taken by the suspect from the guard of Al Nino Security Agency while on duty at the Borja Hospital, while cellular phones were carted away from hospital and pension house personnel in separate incidents.
PNP Prov’l Director Edgardo Ingking met last Friday owners and officers of security agencies to refresh their manpower force on the danger and risk of their jobs at night. “They should be awake and alert,†Ingking told the security agency officials.
LAUDS PNPMayor Lim despite the series of unsolved cases said he is proud of the efforts of the city PNP despite their limitations.
He said that peace and order is not the sole duty of the police but of the entire community especially the civilian residents who can feed information to the police. He even reminded parents of their role towards their growing children as some minors are involved in recent incidents.
SHORTFALLSThe city PNP has 78 cops only with three who would soon retire from service.
City Kagwad Edgar Bompat, chair of the SP committee on protective services, said it is ideal for the city to have at least 100 cops. In fact, Ingking said the ideal ratio should have been one policeman for every 1,000 civilians.
For his part, city PNP chief Jacinto Cesar admits the need for additional vehicles and manpower.
Presently, the city PNP has 3 cars, 3 jeeps, 2 Tamaraw FX and 17 motorcycles.
Some city lawmakers are looking on an earlier budget of P4 million for the acquisition of vehicles for the city PNP.
Mayor Lim said that the city will acquire momentarily additional vehicles for the city PNP which is deemed necessary.
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