City Hall tightens security
Armed woman incident prompts use of metal detectors, checking of bags
Security guards detailed at the executive building of the Cebu City hall now use metal detectors and open bags for inspection to make sure no deadly weapons are brought inside the building.
Mayor Michael Rama also gave instructions yesterday to already prohibit the parking of vehicles near the city hall legislative building.
“Daghan na kaayo ang mo parking diha sa tungod. Uroy ug parkingan na ug sakyanan nga naay bomba diha or one of the cars set on fire and its near the building?”
Rama said that aside from strengthening security at city hall premises, keeping the immediately surrounding of the city hall free of any parked vehicle is also part of good housekeeping.
“This is not just an offshoot of the entry of that (armed) woman but an offshoot of many happenings all over the world,” he said.
armed woman
An armed woman in her 50s got through Cebu City hall security and entered the Mayor’s office on Tuesday.
The woman asked that she be allowed to speak with the mayor but she was instead faced by Rama’s police escort who found that she was carrying with her a caliber 38 snub-nosed revolver with three live bullets.
Personnel from the Civil Security Unit confiscated the firearm which was wrapped in cloth and paper while they allowed the woman whom Rama referred to look “harmless” to go home.
Rama said yesterday that he already gave instructions for the revolver to be turned over to the police and to allow them to assess if there was a need to charge the woman especially for the violation of the Comelec gun ban.
“Let them (investigate the incident). As far as I am concerned that lady has a problem and what she needs is social worker’s attention. What if something happens to her?”
The mayor who asked that the lady’s name be withheld said that the woman had psychological problems.
Juvy Montecillo, Rama’s office secretary, said that the woman walked into the mayor’s office located at the ground floor of the city hall executive building about 9:30 a.m. and was asking for his whereabouts.
police chief’s recommendations
Montecillo said the woman wrote her concerns on a bond paper after learning that the mayor had several activities for the day.
The woman later handed the piece of paper to Rama after he left for an activity. But she waited at the office until the mayor returned two hours later. His police escort later found out that she had a gun.
Cebu City Police Office Chief Mariano Natuel said he would recommend that the guards strictly implement the security measures entering City Hall.
Senior Supt. Natuel said that the guards should frisk all people entering City Hall, let them use metal detectors if City Hall could afford them./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac with Correspondent Chito O. Aragon
