Makati police get 50 more men as holdup cases rise

MANILA, Philippines—To solve the increasing number of robbery and holdup cases in Makati—particularly in public utility vehicles (PUVs) like passenger jeepneys and taxicabs—the Philippine National Police (PNP) has assigned additional 50 policemen to the area upon the request of the city government.

According to Makati police chief Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban, the policemen will be deployed to “high-risk” areas to conduct patrols and thwart criminals.

Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. earlier said he asked the PNP for more men to augment the city’s “grossly inadequate” police force after he received numerous complaints from people living or working in Makati who were robbed or held up.

Lukban told the Inquirer that with the help of the additional lawmen, they would be able to step up their campaign against thieves.

“For the past three days, we have already apprehended a few of these criminals who are targeting PUV passengers, and we will continue doing so in the coming days,” he said.

Victims’ tales

In the past weeks, more robbery-holdup cases have been reported in Makati, particularly on Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong Tamo).

One of the victims, an employee of a media organization, narrated her experience on a social media site to serve as a warning to other taxi riders.

According to Tess (not her real name), she lost her cell phone, money and ATM cards to three men who held her up inside a cab on Aug. 9.

She said her two-hour ordeal which started in Makati and ended in Quezon City began when she hailed a taxi cab in front of her office around midnight and asked the driver to take her to Taguig.

Tess added that she became suspicious when the driver turned into a dimly lit road instead of following her instructions to take another route.

Shortly after, the driver declared a holdup and stopped the cab, she recalled. Two men either in their late 20s or early 30s got in, one beside the driver while the other got into the back where she was seated and placed his arms around her to stop her from getting away.

According to Tess, they warned her not to scream and to keep her eyes closed, saying nothing would happen to her if she cooperated with them. They then took her bag and emptied it of its contents which included her wallet, identification card, ATM cards and cell phone.

At some point, the one seated beside the driver got out of the taxi and never came back. Tess said that from then on, she was left inside the cab with the two men who alternately threatened and then tried to calm her down by making small talk.

ATM withdrawals

After making her give them the PIN to her ATM cards, one of the robbers passed the information on to a man on the phone. Tess said she presumed this was the man who got out of the cab. Bank records later showed that withdrawals from her ATM cards were made in Mandaluyong City.

She added that as they were driving around, the robbers were talking on the phone to other men who told them what streets to take to avoid police patrols.

Around 2 a.m., Tess said the robbers let her out of the cab near SM Fairview in Quezon City. The man who was seated beside her gave her P100 for her fare, flagged down a bus and told her to take it to get home.

“I am unharmed but traumatized. I’m scared of long drives, dark roads and cabs. I’m back at work, functioning but jumpy and anxious,” she added.

Tess said the police have yet to trace the taxi cab which, based on a check with the Land Transportation Office, was sporting a fake license plate.

Choosy holdup men

Another victim who also posted his encounter with armed robbers on social media was more fortunate because he did not lose any of his possessions.

According to Romy, two men held up the passenger jeepney he was riding in earlier this week, around 300 meters away from the Magallanes station of the Metro Rail Transit. One of the robbers took out a long knife while his cohort ordered all the passengers to hand over their cell phones to him.

The robbers, Romy said, took the pricey models but ignored his cell phone which was of a lesser-known brand.

“The guy just took one look at it and turned away in disgust. He didn’t even touch it,” he added.

Like Tess, Romy expressed his frustration over the lack of policemen posted on roads where robbery incidents frequently occur.

“These armed robberies have to stop. I have no beef against pickpockets [because they are] nonviolent. But these armed robberies cause so much vexation to the spirit. And it’s supposed to be safer in Makati,” he said.

Lukban, meanwhile, told the Inquirer that despite the additional policemen, they still did not have the necessary manpower to keep watch over most areas in Makati.

For his part, the city government’s spokesman, Joey Salgado, said that the PNP has assured Binay that the new policemen would remain in Makati until next year.

“The mayor has thanked the PNP for their response but asked them to take remedial measures while there is still no deployment,” Salgado added.

RELATED STORIES

Mayor Binay presses PNP for more cops in Makati

Why Chino Roces Avenue is becoming dangerous