Naga accepts lapses in CVIRAA robbery

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Valdemar Chiong yesterday apologized to the school principal from Mandaue City who was robbed inside their billeting quarter ahead of Sunday’s opening of a regional sports meet in the City of Naga.

Chiong, in a press conference, personally issued apology to Abundio Benitez of Tingub National High School, saying the city is taking responsibility for the security slip.

"We own up (to) our lapses, hoping that with the assurance of the police, this will never happen again," he said.

Benitez accepted the apology and later shook hands with the mayor, even as he admitted that the incident left him and their delegation “traumatized.”

He specifically requested for more police presence at Langtad Elementary School where Mandaue City delegates are being billeted throughout the weeklong Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet.

Benitez said he and another school principal were preparing for the delegation’s meals at around 3 a.m. on Sunday when a man wearing mask introduced himself to them as member of the New People’s Army and then carted away their cash and a tablet worth P11,000.

The man was allegedly armed with a handgun when he barged inside the room the two school officials were sharing.

He then tied Benitez’ hands with a shoelace and scoured for valuables from their room before running away. Fortunately, no violence ensued.

Superintendent Jovito Canlapan, city police chief, has assured Chiong that they have heightened the security in schools where student-athletes and officials from 13 participating divisions are being housed.

Sunday’s arrival of augmentation force from the Cebu Provincial Police Office, he said, allowed them to detail security personnel round-the-clock. This is on top of the deployment of policemen conducting regular roving patrol every two hours.

Canlapan vehemently denied presence of NPA members in the city and said they already have leads into the identity of the suspect.

Currently, Naga police are looking at five possible suspects who are just “local boys.”

For his part, City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Senen Paulin extended similar apologies to Benitez and the rest of the officials and athletes of the Mandaue City delegation.

Despite the security lapse, he said the billeting quarters occupied by the delegates underwent an earlier inspection, were found to meet the standards and approved by regional tournament managers.

CVIRAA, the most prestigious sports conclave in the region, has gathered about 6,000 student-athletes, coaches and school officials in the City of Naga, which is hosting the event for the first time.

During his speech at the opening salvo on Sunday, Chiong mentioned the “unfortunate” robbery incident, but quickly assured the crowd of a smooth flow of the tournament.

“Hosting this event is a great honor and pleasure on our part as this will showcase Naga not only as an industrial hub but also its potential as the next sports tourism destination,” he said.

This year, CVIRAA turnout is much leaner after Dumaguete City and all other divisions in Negros Oriental dropped out of the meet following the creation of the Negros Island Region. (FREEMAN)