MANILA, Philippines?Makati?s top police official is pushing for the passage of an ordinance requiring all banks in the city to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras within their premises to foil robberies.

Supt. Gilbert Cruz, the city police chief, said banks should take precautions against thieves, citing an incident last week in which robbers attempted to mug clients of a Bank of the Philippine Islands branch in Barangay Palanan.

?Most bank robberies happen after clients [leave the establishment], thus, I have recommended to the City Council to pass an ordinance which will require banks to install surveillance cameras,? Cruz said.

Although many banks are already equipped with CCTV cameras, some do not have the security equipment, the police official said.

He added that it would be helpful to enact a law requiring the installation of security cameras around banks.

Cruz also urged bank officials to improve their security measures to ensure the safety of depositors within their establishments.

According to him, they had sent advisories to some 400 Makati-based banks about precautions they may take whenever clients withdraw large amounts of cash.

Among these are offering rides to bank clients who have withdrawn large amounts of cash, installing CCTV cameras inside and outside the establishment and securing the depositors upon leaving the bank to ensure that they are not being followed.

Cruz said the advisory was also meant to remind bank managers and their security personnel of their responsibility to provide security to their clients.

?I encouraged them, particularly the bank managers and security chiefs, to immediately report to us if they see suspicious looking people or vehicles near or outside the bank,? he said.