Lawmaker calls on police to probe Oro kidnapping

By Annabelle L. Ricalde

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper

CAGAYAN de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district) has called on authorities to do whatever they can to identify the suspects who abducted businessman Manny Boniao last September 19 and save him.

Rodriguez also urged police authorities to strengthen the city’s security program and come up with “good intelligence work” to prevent any similar incident in the future.

“I know Manny personally at my upper class in Xavier University. I know him as a good person and an excellent family man. I cannot imagine why this happened to him,” Rodriguez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Rodriguez visited Boniao’s wife on Thursday to comfort her and joined her in prayers for the victim’s safe return.

As of Friday, police authorities could not reveal the gunmen who abducted Boniao inside his establishment in Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City.

Police Senior Superintendent Gerardo Rosales, chief of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said police are still conducting pursuit operation against the five suspects.

There were reports that Boniao was brought to Lanao del Sur and that the kidnappers demanded P100 million as ransom for his safe release but Rosales said there is no confirmation yet.

Police investigation revealed that Enrique Goltiao owned the red Mitsubishi Adventure with plate number KCF-331 used by the suspects as getaway vehicle.

Goltiao, according to Rosales, bought the vehicle last September 15 from a certain Abdul Hakim Grande.

Goltiao is now the subject of investigation by police authorities.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper

Oro Chamber urges police to beef up security

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper

ORO CHAMBER president Antonio Uy has called on the Cagayan de Oro City police and the entire Philippine National Police in Northern Mindanao to heighten security in the city, Misamis Oriental and nearby areas.

"The abduction of a local businessman right at his very office in daytime last Monday would tell us that we need to boost up our local police forces," said Uy.

Two days after the incident, a quick robbery in Cogon ensued.

"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 added. “If our police are deficient in number, by all means we need some augmentation.”

"We believe that creating an elite police force that takes care of intelligence gathering and solving major crimes to include kidnapping and robbery is in order," said Efren Uy, Oro Chamber vice president for Trade and Commerce and past president of the Misamis Oriental Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MOFCCCI).

A small portion of the intelligence fund can be maximized to initiate this elite police team.

In the meantime, local residents and the business community are advised to be vigilant at all times. The latter should brief security personnel to always ask for the identification cards of those wanting to talk to the owner.

Appropriate CCTV facilities should also be put up in every business establishment in the area. (PR)

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper

It’s time to hire bodyguards: Oro Chamber

by: Mark Francisco

Goldstar Daily

THE president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Oro Chamber) has called on the city's business executives to spend more for their personal security in the wake of the abduction of businessman Manny Boniao last Monday.

Oro Chamber president Antonio Uy encouraged businesssmen to hire bodyguards to accompany them wherever they go.

"It may be expensive," Uy admitted, "but there is no other alternative. Safety must come first."

The call came even as the police received sharp criticisms over the abduction of Boniao in Gusa.

Boniao was in his Gusa office when armed men barged in, dragged him outside and fled. The abduction took place at around 10:30 am, a time when the police were on alert because of an ongoing public transport strike in the city.  Uy said local businessmen should close ranks to set in place personal security measures.

He said the city's businessmen should be cautious about the people being allowed inside their homes and offices.  Guards, he said, should be instructed to carefully check and identify visitors before they are allowed inside offices.

He said local businessmen should also change their routines and use different roads from time to time.  Security cameras would help a lot, said Uy, adding that businessmen must make sure these gadgets are working properly.  Meanwhile, Uy urged the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) to speed up the investigation into the Boniao kidnapping case, rescue the victim and bring the kidnappers to justice.

City police director Senior Supt. Gerardo Rosales said Uy's appeal did not necessarily mean that the business community no longer trusts the police.

Rosales said citizens have a right to protect themselves and so they could hire bodyguards as they wish.  He said the police cannot watch over businessmen with different itineraries.

"They have their own individual routines. We cannot cover them all on an individual level and so the hiring of bodyguards is very much welcome," Rosales said.  He said the city lacks police officers. The ratio now is one police officer for every 995 Cagayanons.  The ideal ratio is one police officer for every 300.

Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya said the present ratio could even go higher from 1:995 to 1:1,300 at certain times due to several factors such as absences, shiftings, "Schoolings," and court appointments, among others.  Businessmen, he said, have the discretion to strengthen their personal security if they feel police protection is wanting.

Nacaya said citizens should memorize police hotlines so law enforcers could immediately respond to calls for assistance.