Labella to meet with mall owners, security agencies
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella wants police visibility in areas where there are malls, banks and pawnshops. | Irene R. Sino Cruz
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella is set to meet on Tuesday the owners of shopping malls and security agencies to check on their security arrangements.
The mayor set the meeting following the occurrence of an armed robbery of jewelry stores inside the J Centre Mall in Mandaue City Saturday evening (October 19).
Read more: Six armed men staged daring mall heist, carted away jewelry, cash; one security guard hurt
“We have to be proactive. We have to be precautionary,” Labella said.
Read more: Rob group leader among four killed; five others arrested in Bogo, Sogod
The mayor wanted to know what security measures had been put in place at the malls in Cebu City to prevent the occurrence of a similar incident in the city.
Read more: Police to check security guards on duty during mall robbery
On the other hand, Police Colonel Gemma Vinluan, Cebu City Police Office chief, had informed the mayor they had contingency plans in place.
Vinluan would be submitting her report on the plan during the meeting with the mall owners and security agencies on Tuesday morning (October 22), the mayor said.
According to Labella, he had directed Vinluan to provide police visibility around the shopping malls, banks and pawnshops, among others to serve as a deterrence.
He also cited the need for intensified intelligence gathering in the barangays.
Read more: Cop chief: Search on for 3 Ozamis rob group members carrying stolen loot from Mandaue mall heist
The mayor suggested that owners of apartments and houses for rent should also check on those who would like to rent their property.
He recognized the importance of coordination and communication among the police units in different areas.
The coordination had resulted in the arrest of the Mandaue robbery suspects at Polambato Port, Bogo City, he pointed out./dbs
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