Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim yesterday stressed that the support of the people is crucial to the maintenance of peace and order in the community.
"A vigilant citizenry is the biggest obstacle to crime. The people who deserve to enjoy peace are those who are willing to defend it," Lim declared.
The mayor said the spate of criminality in the city is a consequence of its growth and progress.
"We have become a victim of our own success," he said, noting that the progress has attracted criminal elements who want to exploit the situation.
The mayor said cooperation was the key to the swift solution of the Bank of Commerce hold-up last Tuesday.
Due to the participation of different sectors in the community, the dreaded Meloy Garcia gang was completely busted when all six suspects who took place in the violent hold-up that claimed the life of security guard Remegio Cañizar are now in custody.
"The success of the operation was due to the cooperation of different sectors. As the saying goes, a boat will glide swiftly if the people riding it paddle in harmony towards the same direction," he added.
The mayor said the first sign of cooperation was shown by the guard of the neighboring establishment who shot it out with the suspects even though his post was not at stake.
Lim said that second was the swift response of the policemen from the Tagbilaran PNP, Camp Dagohoy , the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and those in the towns of Panglao and Loay.
The mayor also took the occasion to dispel the claims of former Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan that the resort guards were the ones who arrested the two suspects.
Lim said that when the Tagbilaran policemen arrived at the resort, it was already surrounded by elements of the Panglao PNP.
He added that a conference was held with Dumaluan who identified the room rented by the suspect.
"Contrary to report that the guards were the ones who arrested the holduppers, it was the team from Tagbilaran who conducted the raid," the mayor stressed.
Lim said the intention is not to brag but to set the records straight so the people will know the truth.
The mayor added that all those who gave tips at various times of the operation should also be commended because this led to the arrests in Panglao and Loay.
"The success that resulted in solution of this crime is a clear statement on the need for unity of the different sectors in the community. If this will continue, there is no reason why we will not be able to solve the other crimes and prevent the spread of bad elements in our society," he stressed.
Lim said he is sad that notwithstanding this success, the life of the guard who was killed in the line of duty can no longer be brought back to his wife and four children who will forever be deprived of a father because of the greed of the holduppers.
--The Bohol ChronicleLinkback:
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