Mayor lauds police for suspects’ arrest in Ko case
Mayor Celso Lobregat discusses with City Police OIC director Col. Amador Corpus and other police officials about the status of the detained suspects including the 5 involved in the Ko shooting incident in Gov. Camins, after inspecting the detention facility at the ZCPO Wednesday morning. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat has praised the local police for the immediate arrest of the five suspects in a shooting incident in Gov. Camins Avenue the other day involving the son of a former city official.
Lobregat personally made the rounds of the City Police Office detention center yesterday morning together with City Police OIC Director Col. Amador Corpus to ensure that the 5 suspects including an out of town policeman are detained while awaiting inquest proceedings.
“One thing that is not pretty well publicized is that after the shooting incidents, all the suspects are apprehended,” the mayor said referring to an incident that resulted to the wounding of a 40-year old son of former Vice Mayor Roberto Ko.
Police investigations show that the incident was caused by an altercation between the victim and one of the suspects in one of the nightspots along Gov. Camins recently.
“You cannot prevent altercations but what the police did—to apprehend the suspects, is considered an accomplishment,” Lobregat said. “I precisely came to the City Police Office to see for myself that the suspects are detained and are all accounted for.”
While at the City Police station, the mayor conferred with Col. Corpus and other police officials related to the number of shooting incidents in the city which some sectors blame on Mayor Lobregat.
The mayor said authorities are analyzing each and every case, as many of the incidents, such as that involving the son of the former vice mayor, are results of personal grudge or altercations. “We are analyzing each and every case, if it is an incident that could not have been prevented, the right thing to do is to catch the suspects.”
On the implementation of the gun ban, the chief executive said the police have filed a total of 8 cases of illegal possession of firearms and more cases are expected to follow in the days to come. “Checkpoints will be increased and even inspections of nightspots will also be done.”
As this developed, Lobregat while at the police station, expressed concern over the number of suspects detained at the detention cells as he called on the City Prosecutor to undertake measures pertaining to suspects’ requests for the extension of their 15-day waivers.
A total of 18 suspects are currently detained at the City Police Office detention cell and the increase in the number would congest the detention area.
Meanwhile, Col. Corpus said the police authorities are intensifying efforts to curb crime incidents through the conduct of beat patrols, checkpoints and other anti-crime measures.
He also sought for the support and cooperation of the civilian sector in the effort to minimize crime-related cases.
He added that most of the cases that occurred in the city are results of personal grudge. (Sheila Covarrubias)