Oro dads want hiring security guards in ‘highisk’ businesses compulsory

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

At least two committees in the city council has urged the city government to compel business establishments in the city to hire security guards as a primary deterrent to the commission of the crimes.

City Councilors Edna Dahino, chairman of the committee on trade and commerce and Ramon Tabor, chairman of the committee on police, fire and public safety urged to implement the “security guard ordinance.”

Both are seeking the strict implementation  of City Ordinance No. 12841-2014 which requires all highisk business establishments to hire or engage the services of duly license security guards.

“Dili na mahimo nga dili sila magbutang og security guard tungod kay kulang kaayo ang number sa atong mga polis nga naa sa kadalanan. Dili sab kita magsalig sa mga barangay tanods kay kulang gihapon as force multiplier,” Dahino said.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has raised the alert level to business community to implement extra security measures in their establishments following the series of robbery cases several days before Christmas day.

Cocpo City Police Director P/Chief Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguera said several robbery incidents took place in the past days prompting them to deploy more police officers in the streets.

Cocpo reports that an cargo courier service was victimized by motorcycleiding suspects during the weekend and several individuals reported to several police stations that they were also victimized by motorcycleiding suspects.

Dahino said while every-body’s excited in preparing for the Christmas season, all money couriers, those that cater to remittances, money changers should consider the security of their businesses.

High risk business establishments include banks,  financial institutions, pawnshops, money changers, Internet cafes, gasoline stations, lotto outlets, money couriers, and remittance centers, convenient stores, grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping malls.

She said that the local police has  included schools as the establishments that are prone to incidence of robbery and theft.

For his part, Tabor said other urban centers in the country have now implemented an approved ordinance that requires the services of private security guards to secure establishments. He cited a case in Cebu City, where the City Mayor ordered the closure of a courier firm after he noticed during an inspection that the firm failed to engage the services of private security guards during office hours.

He said that the security guards also act as a force multiplier for the local police force in the fight against criminality. Tabor also called for the strict implementation of the approved Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs) ordinance in financial and high risk establishments here. He said that the city council has approved Ordinance No. 11075-2008 known as the CCTV law.