IN RESPONSE to the three hold-up incidents along Katipunan on June 16, 17, and 20, the University’s Campus Safety and Mobility Office (CSMO) coordinated with Barangay Loyola Heights officials to resolve the issue and strengthen security measures along the area.

Following protocol, CSMO released a memo to the University community regarding the hold-up incidents along with safety reminders on June 23.

According to CSMO Director Marcelino Mendoza, the first incident happened near Rosa Alvero Street. Meanwhile, the latter two incidents involved Ateneans and occurred near the Gate 2.5 footbridge and Agcor Building respectively.

Based on the June 20 incident report from Barangay Loyola Heights, two men on a single motorcycle approached the victim from the June 20 incident at 1:40 AM. As he resisted the hold-up, the suspects’ motorcycle fell along with one of their driver’s licenses. This helped the barangay and police identify the suspects.

Upon receiving this information, Mendoza said they immediately communicated with the barangay to set a meeting regarding the issue. 

He added that improvements to security communication lines were discussed on July 11 during the second quarter Barangay Peace and Order Council that involved the police, barangay officials, CSMO, and other stakeholders.

On CSMO’s protocols

Mendoza said the CSMO is reminding the barangay and police offices to follow the Katipunan Security Plan that was crafted three years ago.

He detailed that the Katipunan Security Plan contained strategies in using closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and radios, and responding to threats like hold-up incidents.

“[E]specially now [that] the barangay captain is newly-elected [and] the police officials are newly transferred,” he said, “[Since] tayo ang permanente rito, we keep on reminding them to follow ([Since] we are permanently here, we keep on reminding them to follow).”

During regular classes, Mendoza said CSMO provides support to the barangay as they post security guards at the footbridges and deploy motorcycle units to rove Katipunan during the Christmas season from November 15 to December 15.

By preparing for security threats, he voiced that they can better respond to them should they arise: “You cannot really prevent a crime, but we can show the criminals that if they do something, they can be [caught] immediately.”

Barangay efforts

After hearing about the incidents, Barangay Loyola Heights Captain Darwin B. Hayes ordered all eight barangay tanods to roam around the barangay during lunchtime and after-school hours. The situation prompted Hayes’ team to draft and impose stricter safety measures, such as situating checkpoints at the barangay’s intersections and increasing the number of deployed police.

“Ang binibigay ng Station 9 [ay] isang pulis per barangay. Ngayon, ang nangyayari [ay]  hindi na sila nagstastay dito, sila ay umiikot na sa buong Katipunan at Xavierville Avenue,” Hayes said.

(Before, Police Station 9 only provided one policeman that stayed put at the barangay center. Now, the police roam the entirety of Katipunan and Xavierville Avenue.)

Since the barangay’s budget for peace and order is limited, Hayes decided to call for the cooperation of business establishments and associations in the area.

According to Hayes, among the efforts towards ensuring a safer Katipunan is a workshop for all business establishments’ security personnel to aid in case of theft, vehicle break-ins, and other criminal incidents. 

Furthermore, he issued a memo on June 22 reminding businesses to follow the Quezon City Ordinance 2695-2018 which requires them to install CCTVs inside and outside their establishments to help monitor barangay premises.

Should business establishments fail to comply, Hayes said they will have trouble renewing their barangay clearance.

“Sinisikap namin para magampanan lahat para sa kaayusan ng Barangay Loyola Heights kaya iniinvolve namin ang mga associations, other stakeholders para makiisa dahil hindi kakayanin ng barangay kung hindi sama-sama,” he explained.

(We are striving to maintain peace and order in Barangay Loyola Heights, which is why we encourage associations and other stakeholders to cooperate since it would be impossible to do if the barangay is not united.)

Civilian responsibility

Hayes expressed that while the barangay is heightening their safety measures, citizens must also heed safety warnings and precautions.

To avoid getting caught in hold-up incidents, Mendoza advised students to refrain from going to drinking establishments and to walk with a “buddy” when along Katipunan.

Mendoza suggested, “Think first before going to places. ‘Do we really have to go there? Is it really important?’ If not, then you can just stay inside the school.”

Meanwhile, Hayes warned the community to keep important belongings hidden to prevent garnering the attention of criminals. Additionally, he said that if one encounters a hold-up, they are advised to calmly give whatever the criminal asks for to prevent further injuries.

Mendoza also reminded Loyola Schools students and employees to immediately report to the CSMO or the nearest University guards if they face a similar situation: “Ang importante diyan is we have to know, so that if we can do something at that time, we can still do it (The important thing is we have to know, so that if we can do something at that time, we can still do it).”

CSMO can then accompany and aid victims in filing statements and other documents at the police station and at court, should their case escalate.

However, Mendoza emphasized that victims will need to present themselves in court hearings with the assistance of CSMO.

“[Victims] have to prove also that once they’re [at court that] they’re also willing to file a case and attend hearings. If these cases will be dropped, the other party will keep on doing [crimes],” he said.