Biz group calls police to heighten security

THE Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (OroChamber) is calling on the police to heighten security in the city, in Misamis Oriental and in nearby areas.

OroChamber president Antonio Uy said there is a need to boost the local police forces following the kidnapping of businessman Manuel Boniao.

Five armed men on board a red Mitsubishi Adventure abducted Boniao, owner of Peoples Agri Service and Supply, inside his establishment in Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, around 10:30 a.m. on September 19.

A robbery in Cogon, Cagayan de Oro City, meanwhile, ensued two days after the incident.

“If we are serious in promoting new investments to our area, then we have to do something to curb this peace and order problem,” Uy said.

“If the police are deficient in number, by all means it needs some augmentation,” he added.

Local residents and the business community are however advised to be vigilant at all times.

The OroChamber said owners of establishments should brief their security personnel to always ask for the identification cards (ID) of those who may want to talk to the owner.

CCTV facilities should also be put up in every business establishment in the area.

Freed

Police confirmed on Monday that kidnappers released Boniao on Saturday night, five days after he was abducted.

Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) chief Gerardo Rosales said he learned about Boniao’s release from former Balingasag, Misamis Oriental mayor Felix Borromeo.

Borromeo said Boniao was transported already to his house in Golden Village, Barangay Carmen, Cgayan de Oro City.

Rosales said he visited Boniao’s house to check but he failed to talk to the businessman.

“Borromeo talked to me, instead, because Boniao was resting. We still don’t have any idea on what really happened,” Rosales added.

The police chief said, “We will just wait when Boniao would be ready to tell everything.”

The police are focusing the investigation on the real owner of the red Mitsubishi Adventure that was used by the suspects.

Initial investigation showed that Abdul Hakim Grande, who was the first owner of the vehicle, sold it to Enrique Goltiao on September 15, four days before the kidnapping.

But Rosales said according to Goltiao, he also sold the vehicle through a middle man.

“Goltiao said he only knew the middle man in the name of alyas ‘Gogong’ so we are trying to identify who this Gogong is,” Rosales said. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper