NEWS: Mayor Cee O: “No cause for alarm”

On rise of killings in Tagum

oct 14

Tagum Mayor Rey Chiong Uy in a report of DXDN Radyo Ukay in Tagum early morning yesterday said that the city’s statistics on killings reported by the police “is no cause for alarm” adding that that those “salvaged” or killed were bad elements in the society, “mga kawatan, holdupper, snatcher, akyat bahay… so walay dapat ikaalarma.”

Asked in an exclusive field interview the other day by Ruel Dagsangan, anchor of Radyo Ukay’s early morning newscast program, the mayor added that the city in fact had been banking on its good peace and order situation in receiving continuing confidence from people for its continuing development.

In the same Radyo Ukay report, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon condemned extrajudicial killings in the city saying that the “root cause of the problem” should be addressed to in an effort of helping the police solve it.

The mayor’s and vice mayor’s statements came close to the heels of provincial police reports on the rise of crimes against persons particularly shooting incidents in the city that accounted the bulk in the reported cases throughout Davao del Norte.

Provincial police director PSSupt. Benelito Bianzon bared a total of 54 shooting incidents from January to October 10 in the city last Friday’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s human rights committee hearing-inquiry initiated by Boardmember Antonio Lagunzad, the committee chairman.

The crime statistics included the still unresolved slaying of long-time serving former Mankilam barangay captain and kagawad Noel dela Cruz.

PSSupt. Bianzon however that police has solved 23 crimes and a lot of petty crimes like stabbing, hacking and others and recovered many loose firearms in their Operation Kapkap.

But he also bared on increasing death threats which he said the police has been meeting difficulties in responding to all requests for protection considering the limited number of police personnel.

In that committee hearing, the police director admitted difficulties and loose ends in stemming off the rising crime index in the city primarily owing to the lack of police personnel to secure the high city population even as he said that the province is still generally peaceful.

He called on for active civilian support while asserting that police has all been doing its work to secure the populace.

Also in that hearing, Bianzon downplayed reports on the presence of death squad operating in the city, but he admitted the police is looking into reports on hired killers. PSSupt. also cited various causes and motives in the rise of shooting incidents in the city.

The hearing led to various initial proposals in addressing the problem of criminality which the SP committee had documented.

Boardmember Lagunzad said that extrajudicial killing is a human rights violation and vowed to continue his committee’s probe. He planned to conduct activities with barangay officials to address the problem.

Also present during last Friday’s committee hearing-inquiry held at Lakan’s Place were Boardmembers Jose Recarido Federiso, Ely Dacalus, Artemio San Juan, Salvador Royo, and SK federation president Dennis Café, Tagum City police chief PSupt. Dario Gunabe, CIDG-Davao del Norte provincial director PSupt. Rowena Garma, and some members of the family of the slain Dela Cruz who shared their fearful plight to the committee. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: allan rellon, board member larry caminero, boardmember artemio san juan, boardmember ely dacalus, boardmember jose recarido federiso, boardmember salvador royo, boardmember tony lagunzad, CIDG-Davao del Norte Police Supt. Rowena Garma, mayor rey uy, police supt gunabe, PSSupt. Benelito Bianzon, rellon, tagum city crimes rise, Tagum police chief Dario Gunabe, tony lagunzad, boardmember tony lagunzad, CIDG-Davao del Norte provincial director PSupt. Rowena, killings crimes in tagum city, mayor rey chiong uy, Tagum City police chief PSupt. Dario Gunabe, vice mayor allan rellon

NEWS: “Tagum is safe, peaceful” – Police Chief Gunabe

Tagum City Police Superintendent Dario Gunabe has allayed fears of city residents saying that the city is generally peaceful and safe in the wake of the escalation of armed attacks staged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front groups in Sarangani and Lanao provinces.

In Monday’s session of the city council where PSupt. Gunabe was one of the invited resource persons, he assured the Tagum public that the 100-strong city police force has been exerting all efforts in their continued vigilance to counter any terrorist threats in the city.

“We’re doing our best and always ready,” said the city police director, who was invited to shed light on the reported existence of the youth gangs who are preying on even minors and high schoolers in the city.

In his situationer, Gunabe informed the city council that the extent of the youth involvement in gangs in the city has not yet reached an alarming level adding that the problem is still manageable.

He bared that the police has already identified the gangs which he said operate yet in Tagum City Comprehensive High School while they are still identifying other gangs in schools at Madaum and Manga districts.

At least one case of a gang war near the Freedom Park had already been probed by the police at the recent.

He added though that the police could not apprehend gang members especially the minors or those below 15 years old as it is contrary to law unless they are on the process of committing or have committed a crime.

On the same session, he particularly called on the parents and the schools to take care of the children explaining that the “root cause” why membership in youth gangs increased is brought about by the failure to guide and take care the children at home.

But he said this should not be left unchecked as he called on all sectors in the city to address the problem adding that the teachers have difficulty also in addressing the problems on one-on-one basis owing to the high student to teacher ratio.

He said that the Dept of Social Welfare and Development has also great role in responding to this emerging problem of the city.

For his part, PSupt. Gunabe said he has also alerted his women and children desk to finetune ways in handling and the police referral system for youth offenders and delinquents.

The city police is also deploying police patrol that would regularly takes in its itinerary the identified places where youth gang members are reportedly grouping at nighttime, and has scheduled series of symposia in schools in schools in the city in coordination with the office of councilor Maria Lina Baura.

Several councilors also took turns in giving their respective proposals. Councilor Nicandro Suaybaguio Jr called for coordination with the school principals and administrators with the end view of inviting the identified student who are gang members and their parents and possible meting out of disciplinary actions such as student suspension and expulsion.

Meanwhile, Councilor and ABC president Alfredo Pagdilao has called on the city council for a passage of ordinance for the city government to make a 9:30 P.M. warning siren for loitering youths to be already at their homes before a proposed 10:00 P.M. curfew time for them (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: police supt gunabe, police supt gunabe, tagum city police