FREELANCER: Swift Justice For Held Up Doc; To tell or not?

I met a long lost friend at a local mall recently. I thought the free time for us in the succeeding days over coffee was merely to share more funny and other memories of our high school and college days, and thoughts on current events. It turned out later to be much deeper, and too serious.

To cut the story short, I strongly urged him to tell his family now of his latest laboratory and medical results which his doctor said confirmed his terminal case.

He said he is hesitant to tell his wife and children because he does not want them to worry since he has no tell-tale symptoms yet. He said he will just let his silent killer take its natural course until such time his family notices his weakening or until his body ceases to live.

I urged him to tell them now so they can take good care of him, which, I believe can still change the course and will eventually extend his life, and also to better prepare his family for the eventuality.

To my readers, if you are in this situation, will you tell your family right away or not and just wait for them to see you fading?

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Holdup Suspects Fall

It was swift — the arrest of motorcycle-riding holdup men who victimized a lady doctor past 9 o’clock Thursday night (May 28). The doctor was about to open the gate of the apartment she is staying at GV Street in Barangay 19, Bacolod when one of the two suspects held her up, with the former even trying to resist her attacker as seen on a CCTV recording.

Following the incident, Acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region, P/Brig. Gen. Romano V. Cardiño directed the Bacolod City Police Office and all operating units to go after the suspects.

On Saturday afternoon, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya and BCPO Director, P/Col. Eugene Rebadomia held a press conference during which it was confirmed that a P100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the holdup suspects was being offered by the regional PNP through P/Brig. Gen. Cardiño.

Mayor Gasataya also made a counterpart reward of P100,000, raising the reward money to P200,000. The mayor also echoed his call in the recent past, urging the public to report illegal and criminal activities and to coordinate with police authorities any information they may have. “The city government remains fully supportive of the efforts of the BCPO to ensure that justice is served and that our community remains safe,” the mayor said.

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Just hours after that presscon, P/Maj. Rondyl Tapang, Bacolod City Police Station 1 chief, confirmed that the two suspects in the robbery-holdup Thursday night were arrested one after another on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, following tips from informants. The suspects are being detained at PS 1. Authorities recovered the victim’s two cellphones from them.

The call of the city government and the police, the cooperation of the public, the reward offer, the already ongoing investigations and follow up operations, the CCTV videos, and the ensuing pursuit operations all contributed to the fall of the suspects in just hours. BCPO chief, P/Col. Rebadomia said the holdup incident was an isolated case and that the suspects are not part of any syndicate.

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Indeed, such incident can happen day or night, anywhere, as long as the criminal-minded is given an opportunity to strike. That is why we must always be aware of our surroundings no matter where we are, what we are doing, and especially when we are all alone.

Having one or two companions is not a guarantee either, but our vigilance and alertness to our surroundings.

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We can get fast assistance by dialing 911. We must also save the local police station numbers on our phone for quick access to call for help or for any emergency.

We are hoping for more CCTVs with high-definition cameras and street lights in areas not yet lighted, and 24/7 intensified police and barangay tanod visibility.* (APT)