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BY MAE SINGUAY
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Thursday, January 5, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Until now, the police have not yet identified the suspect in the fatal robbery of a department store here last Christmas.
A special group of officers will look into the incident that killed two people, including the son of the Chinese storeowner, and injured three others.
The Police Regional Office 18 (PRO-18) formed “Task Group Wu” to investigate the robbery at the JDS Mindoro Enterprises Corp. on Locsin Street, Barangay 13.
That the crime is considered “heinous” calls for the creation of the task group, said Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, PRO-18 director.
Gumban said Senior Superintendent Flynn Dongbo, city police director, will lead the task group.
Task Group Wu will build the case to be filed against the culprit/s, said the regional police director.
Right now all the police know is that the robbery was staged by a lone gunman who barged into the store that had just closed around 7:30 p.m. and, using what was believed a rifle, fired at the people inside.
Chinese national Changle Wu, son of the storeowner, died of a gunshot wound on the head. Security guard Jilbert Mayang was killed, too; he was hit on the back of his head and body.
Injured were Chinese men Wei Quang Huang, Yuan Long Huang and Zhang Xiao Dong.
The suspect carted away around P1 million and fled on board a red motorcycle, initial police investigation showed.
Local government officials and businesspeople expressed alarm over the incident and worried about the safety of businesses.
In response, Mayor Evelio Leonardia created Task Group Bantay Negosyo, headed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran.
In Executive Order No. 35 dated Dec. 29, 2016, Leonardia said Bantay Negosyo — comprising representatives from local business groups — shall, among others:
* formulate measures aimed at detecting crimes and preventing them from happening in places of business or public areas
* facilitate seminars and information campaigns among storeowners and their personnel about security at the workplace
* coordinate with the Philippine National Police and the City Legal Office for assistance in creating security measures to be undertaken by the city government
In light of the incident, critics described the Bacolod City Police Office as “incapable” of keeping Bacolod safe.
The local police under Dongbo lack “police visibility and quick-response capability,” said John Chiong, national commander of the anticrime group Task Force Crusaders.
“Until now the [police have] no lead on the latest crime, as well as on the previous killings, robberies, and petty crimes that, when already frequent, are no longer petty,” said Chiong.
He said the city “needs a strong and aggressive police leader” and suggested that Dongbo be replaced “for the betterment of the city.”/PN
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