BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO – In response to a string of recent robbery incidents, San Rafael town residents are taking additional precautions to protect their homes.
Police Lieutenant Gener Buena, head of the San Rafael Municipal Police Station (MPS), said residents have taken proactive steps such as installing grills on their windows and adding barrel bolts to their doors. “Residents themselves have initiated these security measures. They’ve also created a chat group where they immediately report suspicious activities or individuals to the police,” said Buena.
The main suspect in these incidents is believed to also reside in San Rafael.
“We’ve apprehended an individual with a warrant of arrest, suspected of stealing a carabao. There]’ another person who’s identified as the leader of a group of thieves. We arrested him at a checkpoint with weapons and a grenade in his possession. The community is deeply grateful, given the unease stemming from their past experiences,” added Buena.
A local business owner, identified as “Jo”, recounted a close encounter with a would-be thief.
“He actually entered my child’s room. My child saw his face clearly. My child was asleep but was awakened by a peculiar oily scent. Later on, my child recognized the smell as similar to used cooking oil,” said Jo.
A week prior, Jo’’s house was also the target. Around 9 p.m., there was a distinct cologne sprayed.
“We mistakenly thought it was our neighbors who had just put on cologne. It was so overpowering that we all fell asleep. At around midnight, my husband detected the scent again, which woke him up,” Jo added.
Recent incidents of robbery and attempted robberies have been documented by the San Rafael police in the barangays of Poblacion, Calaigang, Balabag, and San Florentino. (With a report from Aksyon Radyo Iloilo)/PN
