Makati police pressed to solve female hotel worker’s rob-slay

Mayor Abigail Binay has ordered the Makati City police to speed up its investigation of a female hotel-casino employee who was robbed and killed in Barangay West Rembo while on her way to work on Tuesday morning.

“Safety in the city is one of the priorities of Mayor Binay. She is very concerned about this incident and has asked for a report from the chief of police,” Michael Arthur Camiña, the mayor’s spokesperson and city legal officer, said in a statement on Thursday.

A still unidentified assailant tried to snatch the bag of Maria Remedios Pedrano, 31, and shot her in the head when she resisted. The perpetrator then took the victim’s bag and fled on a motorcycle.

Binay also directed Makati police chief Senior Supt. Rommil Mitra to increase police visibility and to take measures to prevent similar incidents.

“Aside from mobile patrol cars, Mayor Binay asked the police chief to deploy teams to conduct foot patrols in strategic areas to deter criminals and protect the public,” Camiña said.

Binay earlier cited the imbalance in Makati’s police-to-population ratio in a recent workshop hosted by the National Police Commission. She also asked for the deployment of additional policemen to meet the ideal ratio of one lawman for every 500 people.

The present ratio is estimated at one to 800 at night and one to 2,000 during the day when Makati-based offices are open.