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[av_heading heading=’Better security for Bacolod call center agents eyed’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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Tuesday, March 7, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Police are finding means to better secure business process outsourcing (BPO) workers in light of the reported rape and robbery of a call center agent in Barangay Mansilingan last week.
An improved “Night Watch” operation may help, according to Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, city police chief.
Wanky said “Night Watch” involves enhanced police patrol operations in all business districts, especially BPO centers.
Wanky cited the need to intensify this, pointing out that the crimes were perpetrated by suspects on board a passenger motorcycle.
After the rape and robbery was reported last week, police swooped down on colorum tricycles (without franchise). They apprehended about 355 tricycles since March 2.
Police were also looking to hold an information and education campaign on security, especially among BPO workers on night shift.
Wanky said they will tap barangay officials in making the streets safer for call center agents.
A call center agent for Ubiquity Global Service told the police two people on board a motorcycle raped her in Barangay Mansilingan.
The 26-year-old married woman claimed she was on her way to work around 3 a.m. on March 1 when attacked.
She hired the motorcycle, but instead of taking her straight to the CyberCentre on Lacson Street, the driver and his companion brought her to Mansilingan, sexually assaulted her and took her belongings, she said.
Meanwhile the Sangguniang Panlungsod asked call center companies and other commercial establishments with night shift workers to provide service vehicles that will bring their employees home after work.
Business process outsourcing companies flourish in the city, with most, if not all, of them operating 24/7, according to Councilor Ricardo Tan, author of the resolution making the request.
Call center companies should also put up areas, equipped with security cameras, where their employees could wait for service or public utility vehicles.
Tan said the news about the call center agent being attacked has alarmed other call center agents, their parents and other people in similar situations.
“It is proper and fitting for the local government to encourage call center companies within its jurisdiction” to have these facilities, the resolution stated.
Footage from security cameras at waiting areas may be used in future investigations of crimes, the councilors said.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia worries the incident would taint the city’s image as a BPO industry location and eventually affect the local economy.
Leonardia said he ordered the Bacolod City Police Office to assist the victim.
“As far as the criminal aspect is concerned, we already have a suspect,” said the mayor.
He was referring to jeepney driver Virgilio Villaflor of Murcia, Negros Occidental.
Last week Villaflor surfaced at Police Station 7 to clear his name. He said he learned officers were looking for him in connection with the rape and robbery. He denied the accusation, saying he was at home at the time of the crimes.
Police sent him home. They said they cannot charge Villaflor because he was not already identified as a suspect and the victim only pointed to him when he arrived at the station on Thursday.
Leonardia said the City Health Office and the Department of Social Services and Development are currently conducting stress debriefing on the victim.
He reminded Wanky that the call center industry is “precious “for being a prime economic stimulant of the city.
“We have more than 20,000 employees earning an average of P15,000, so in a conservative estimate, we are talking billions being infused to the (local) economy every year,” Leonardia said.“We cannot afford to get this affected.”/PN
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