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.
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