‘Combat-ready’ guards needed, traders say

STRINGENT  security inside malls and “combat-ready” police and security personnel are needed to  protect banks and customers in commercial establishments from armed robbers, said some Cebu business  leaders.

Chito Cabaero, president of the Cebu Bankers Association, told Cebu Daily News that security agencies need to improve the training of their security guards to better deal with armed robbers.

Cabaero said this would help avoid a repeat of last Monday’s foiled robbery attempt at a money changer outlet in the basement of the Robinsons Place  in Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City.

The robbers killed two security guards of the ChinaBank armored van.

“We have in fact organized our security agencies  and some have already had  activities on combat trainings. Some  do simulation exercises. We did this back when robberies in the downtown area were rampant,” Cabaero said.

Cabaero said they meet with the police for updates about the  presence of organized crime groups like those in last Monday’s robbery attempt.

Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph said security should be reinforced with the holidays approaching.

“We need to strategize, to focus and be committed. There is no point beefing up the police since they don’t have bullets, gasoline, adequate equipment, training and clean and good governance,” Joseph said in a text message.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Eric Ng Mendoza said security inside malls is paramount because many people gather there.

“How come a robber managed to enter a mall with a gun? Are we safe after what happened?” he asked.

Mendoza said it is the responsibility of mall and establishment owners to ensure that their security measures are above standard to avoid a shoot-out or any outbreak of violence within their premises.

“We should set up more security check details. Checking and frisking before entering and monitoring through closed-circuit TV cameras. Robbers always look for a  chance to to attack whenever laxity and lapses happen,” Mendoza told Cebu Daily News.