Labella tells store: Release video or else...

Vice mayor miffed with inability of the company to cooperate with city and police officials, warns of possibility cancellation of business permit Management of the fast food chain says it needs clearance from its head office to deliver footage of its CCTV cameras Jordanian couple lost a backpack containing some P90,000 in cash and their passports Leads may be lost in the delay

CEBU City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella warned a fast food chain of the possible cancellation of its business permit if it fails to cooperate with the City Government and the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

Labella has requested the management of Jollibee Foods Corp. inside the Ayala Center Cebu to release a copy of its closedcircuit television (CCTV) footage that may show the commission of a crime last Feb. 13.

Labella, chairman of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC), wrote the manager of Jollibee to furnish the CCPO with the surveillance footage that may shed light on how a Jordanian couple fell victim to theft.

"I understand that your outlet at Ayala is equipped with a CCTV and, therefore, the commission of the crime must have been captured by the camera," Labella's letter read.

Arslan Alsisoni and his wife Nelly Joy lost some P90,000 in cash, their passports and other personal belongings to a thief who got their bag while they were inside the fast food branch.

During the PCAC meeting yesterday, Labella said he was told that the police already requested for the release of the CCTV footage but the management declined.

"I think that you would agree with me that time is of the essence in the investigation of a crime.Any further delay in the investigation of this crime that is already four days old may result in the loss of leads that may help in the identification and apprehension of the perpetrators," Labella said.

The management of Jollibee, for its part, said it did not release the requested footage because it needs to secure clearance from its Manila office.

"This is a matter of serious public concern," Labella said.

Labella warned the management that the City Government will take appropriate actions such as the cancellation of their business permit if they fail to cooperate on police matters.

"They are under obligation to provide help for the police in the solution of the crime because we can never tell who could be the next victim," he added.