More CCTVs

Police push installation for better security

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Police authorities are pushing for the installation of more high-resolution closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras in various public areas in the city in the wake of the rising cases of robberies and other crimes.

Sr. Supt. Maximo Layugan, city police director, said Monday the presence of CCTV cameras could help deter the occurrence of various crimes, especially robberies, as well as fast-track the resolution of some cases.

He urged the city government to expedite the implementation of its standing plan to install CCTV cameras in key streets or roads, commercial areas, public markets, parks and other public areas.

"We recommended this before and I think it’s now time for the city to implement it," he told reporters.

The police official made the call after he was summoned by the city council to shed light on the cases of robberies involving stalls at the city's central public market and other commercial establishments these past months.

In some cases, the suspects were able to enter the establishments by destroying the padlocks of steel rollup doors of the outlets or "basag-kandado modus."

During the first quarter of the year, Layugan said they recorded at least 12 cases of "basag-kandado" in parts of the city.

He said a case each were recorded by the Pendatun, Makar and Lagao police stations, two by the Purok Malakas police station and seven by the Bula police station.

The seven incidents reported to the Bula police station happened at the city's central public market, he said.

"I hope the city government can fast-track the installation of the CCTV cameras to help prevent similar incidents," Layugan said. Allen V. Estabillo/PNA