CCPO to discuss safety with cabbies, operators

The Cebu City Police Office will conduct a dialogue with taxi drivers and operators regarding their safety, following the death of one of their colleagues in Happy Valley last Tuesday.

Supt. Ryan Devaras, chief of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch, declared the place as safe after the arrest of suspects Arman Batulan, Janno Mancera, John Amigabie and Jun- jun Barbon, who have been tagged as behind the spate of taxi robberies in the area.

“But we still continue our surveillance of the place to get rid of other robbers,” Devaras said.

Reports reached police that taxi drivers take an alternate route rather than enter the area.

“We can conduct a dialogue with the operators so that the taxi drivers will be safe whenever they are working for their livelihood,” he said.

The death of Sering, who was a retired police officer from Bohol, prompted authorities to monitor closely the area, which is under the jurisdiction of Barangay Labangon.

Devaras said that Batulan already confessed to the crime but he still needs to undergo a paraffin test.

“... We need the results of the paraffin and the ballistic ago. ination to strengthenL the cases against them,” Devaras said.

Devaras said they are confident that the case against the four arrested persons will prosper as it is supported by affidavits from witnesses and the recovered firearm.

Batulan and Barbon will face charges for robbery with homicide while Amigabie and Mancera will be charged with possession of deadly weapons.

We can conduct a dialogue with the operators so that the taxi drivers will be safe whenever they are working for their livelihood. SUPT. RYAN DEVARAS Investigation and Detection Management Branch Chief