Students, workers worried over own safety

From students to construction workers, not everyone is confident about peace and order in Cebu City.

“Fifty-fifty pa ta sa atong safety kung maglakaw-lakaw ta diri sa siyudad sa Sugbo (It’s 50-50 when it comes to our safety in walking the streets of Cebu City),” 48-year-old construction worker Antonio Cabucos said.

Cabucos, who does repairs in a small establishment in barangay Sambag II, was reacting after  after a daylight robbery of a pawnshop and the killing of a traffic enforcer and a policeman  two traffic police man last week.

Cabucos said the police and citizens have to cooperate to curb  criminality in the city.

Last Tuesday, unidentified robbers sped away with P150,000 cash from a pawnshop  near a police precinct in barangay Mabolo.

Two days after, a civilian traffic enforcer,  Armando Daligdig was shot dead in a confrontation with an ex-police officer  over a traffic violation in barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

The next  day, PO2 Gerlito Estremos was mauled and shot dead  by unidentified robbers whom he chased down  P. Del Rosario Street after they snatched his crash helmet.

Law student Anthonie Eduard Bendanillo, also of barangay Sambag II, said he was robbed of his cell phone, two laptops, a bag and even his deodorant by a group of con artists   when he bought a ship ticket for a trip to Leyte.

“Here in Cebu City, I’ve experienced  so many crimes. that is why, I can say it is not safe. The police officer (Estremos) may have been killed by a syndicate,” Bendanillo said.

Taxi driver Tomas Elmer Rabe  told Cebu Daily News said a person’s safety depends on the time and place he or she is at.

He said he is cautious about accepting passengers. “I can only trust God to protect me,” he said.

Johry Morales, a second year law student of the University of San Carlos, said the police should be visible and alert to become a deterrent against criminals.

“So long as one doesn’t hang out late in the night and avoid displaying valuables, he or she is safe,” Morales said.

Marketing specialist Christine Madanguit of Visayas JS Unitrade Merchandise said criminals are quite brutal nowadays.

“I feel safe walking around the city but we should be more cautious especially those working at night,” she said.

Jeepney driver John Argido chose to hire a barker to accompany his night trips in the IT Park and Apas area.

Argido prefers to drive at night because of less traffic and competition and the number of call center agents who work at night.

Carbon market vendor Arlene Badilla said her daughter helps her out in the market at night for protection.

Other students like Trisha Figueras said she brings “pepper spray just in case.”

Jolliet Pagaran, a 21-year-old working in an accounting staff at the IT park, said she supports the installation of more security cameras to monitor the movement of people.

“I hope that the police and the city government would identify and catch the suspects of the crimes immediately. Thinking that they are free out there in the open makes the people uneasy,” she added. Correspondents Christine Emily L. Pantaleon, Joy Cherry S. Quito and Jose Santino Bunachita