Makati Mayor Abby Binay on Wednesday urged city residents and other stakeholders to immediately report crime incidents to the local police, rather than simply posting them on Facebook.
Based on its latest report, the Makati Police recorded 21 cases of robbery in the city since January.
“Victims or witnesses of a crime should report it right away to the Makati police or the nearest authorities for prompt action,” Binay said.
Merely posting such incidents on Facebook and other social media outlets cannot substitute for reporting them directly to the authorities, and could even delay crime resolution and the apprehension of suspects, the mayor said.
Binay noted some incidents where the police took several days to trace the whereabouts of the victims who posted about the crimes on Facebook.
She also encouraged victims and their families to file charges against suspects who are apprehended by the police, and pursue the cases in court.
“I urge victims or their relatives to help the police keep criminals off the streets by filing charges against suspects already in custody and pursuing these in court,” the mayor said.
Binay also called for increased police visibility through mobile and foot patrols to deter criminal activities, especially in areas with high crime incidence and during critical hours.
Earlier, robbery charges have been filed against three suspects who allegedly robbed female customers of Mando’s Wingshack in Barangay Poblacion last January 28. A CCTV footage of the incident showing three male suspects robbing the customers at gunpoint was posted on Facebook.
On Tuesday evening, three male suspects were killed in a shootout with operatives of the Makati Police and Southern Police District along Chino Roces Avenue in Makati.
According to Sr. Insp. Ronald Saquilayan, the fatalities were identified as members of the notorious Brondial Group robbery gang, namely Jason Brondial, Ernesto Fajardo, and Donald Bacsal.
Brondial was one of three suspects charged for the robbery in Poblacion. Two other suspects, Yuki Rivera and Michael Domingo, who were identified by the victims from the rogue’s gallery at the city police station, remain at large.