Garma: City still “safe and peaceful”

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the series of killings which already victimized foreign nationals, Cebu City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Royina Garma insisted that the city remains “safe and peaceful.”

She described the recent shootings involving Japanese and Korean nationals as “isolated.”

“Oo naman, peaceful naman. You know, when you say it’s not peaceful, ang mangyayari nyan, there’s random killing and you don’t even know the reason why,” Garma told reporters when asked if she still considers Cebu City as safe and peaceful.

But for Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the city is no longer safe. The mayor, in his Facebook post, vowed to do something about the killings

“We cannot stand for a police that still insists that ‘Cebu is safe’ when there are murders taking place almost every day. I cannot mention specifics yet, but I am going to do something about this, and I will do it as soon as I can,” Osmeña’s FB post reads.

The mayor did not grant media interview yesterday.

Garma said the two recent killings involving foreigners and even those previously recorded deaths are isolated cases. Korean national Young Ho Lee, 40, was shot dead by four unidentified gunmen inside a motel in the city Sunday night.

Initial investigation shows that the victim could be involved in illegal drug trade, adding that police are also looking into his connections. Garma said the cellphone of the victim revealed that there were failed transactions which could possibly be the motive behind his killing.

“Yung mga documents actually naging lead lang ng investigators natin but yung identification made by a witness is stronger na ebidensya nato. Motive ay it appears to be it has something to be with drugs. Yun ang lumalabas sa investigation,” she added.

Garma said it was also found out that the victim was previously involved in swindling.

Garma said they are also looking into personal grudge and love affair as motives in the killing of Japanese national Junko Hamada, 71.  According to Garma, the deaths of the two foreign nationals should not be a cause for alarm for the business sector and the foreign community.

“It’s not about their business transactions dito sa Philippines. It has something to do with how they spend their lives here in the Philippines,” she said, adding that tourists should also inform the police of any security matters for them to feel safe while visiting the city.

Garma urged those who are into hospitality business and other private establishments to beef up their security measures.

“Paano nakapasok ang baril? You can prevent this only if there are security measures in place… Nanawagan kami to initiate safety measures to secure safety of clients,” Garma said.

Senior Inspector Janelito Marquez, deputy chief of Mabolo Police Station, said the Korean had a meeting with the four suspects inside the motel room.

A witness reportedly saw Young on his knees begging from one of the gunmen.

“Naa siya ka-meet up, according sa witness, naa arguments and pagtan-aw niya nagluhod na ang Korean nangayo na og sorry,” Marquez said. The police recovered drug paraphernalia inside the room occupied by the victim.

The shooting to death of Young was only one of the series of shooting incidents responded by the police last Sunday. At least 30 minutes after the shooting of the Korean national, a business manager of an online grocery store was killed in Sitio Tangkongan Barangay Sambag Uno.

Victim was identified as Andew Abadilla. The police, however, believe that the motive could be work related because the victim recently recommended the termination of one of his employees.

Few hours later, another shooting incident was responded by the police in Barangay Apas, Cebu City. As of this writing, the police have yet to identify the victim.

CCPO reported a total crime clearance efficiency of 87.11 percent or 12,607 cases cleared out of 14,472 cases. It has crime solution efficiency of 83.25 percent or 12,048 cases solved out of the 14,472 crime volume. (FREEMAN)