CCPO probes robberies in Korean restaurants

CEBU, Philippines - As per directive from Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO) -7, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will be looking into cases of robbery allegedly perpetrated by a gang targeting Korean restaurants after information relayed by the Korean consulate.

In a courtesy call to PRO-7 Director Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino last Friday, Korean consulate police attaché Lee Yongsang (not Joseph Shin as previously reported) brought the matter to Espino’s attention.

Lee presented photos of a man, allegedly a member of Salisi Gang, who has been consistently captured in CCTV cameras of several Korean restaurants since January of this year.

CCPO Director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria said that they will immediately conduct an initial investigation.

“Of course, i-imbestigahan natin basta within our area, pwede naman yun,” Doria said.

Doria added that most tourists who have been victimized have filed complaints, but because of their limited stay, cases don’t get resolved and many are dropped due to unavailability of witnesses and the victims themselves.

“Sometimes kasi nagiging problema natin hindi sila cooperative, so nahihirapan tayo,” Doria said.

Doria said that the resolution of the case also lies in the cooperation of the victims.

“Ang hirap hindi sila nagreport, kasi tourist nga kaya nadi-dismiss ang kaso kasi pag nagkakaroon ng hearing wala yung complainant. Sa atin naman, lahat ng pina-file na complaint we act on them,” Doria said.

He said that as far as security is concerned, there is a limit on how far the police can cover since the number of police personnel is not proportionate to the city’s total population.

With that, he encourages business owners to equip their establishments with better CCTV systems, employ security personnel and, most importantly, exercise personal vigilance.

“Maraming insidente na kailangan talaga yung mukha niya (suspect) ay makita, hindi yung silhouette lang, baka mamaya mapagkamalan siya so we have to make sure na isa talaga yung nakunan,” Doria said on the importance of upgrading CCTV systems.

He added that these types of incidents do not only occur at Korean establishments but also in other businesses.  (FREEMAN)