By Dhel Nazario
The Pasay City Police will be designating permanent police personnel to man the vicinity of EDSA Pasay - Rotonda following a recent holdup incident involving a Manila Bulletin reporter that occurred in the area.
Pasay City Police Chief, Col. Bernard Yang, in text message sent to the Manila Bulletin, said he will be placing permanent policemen in the area after a Manila Bulletin reporter was robbed at knifepoint on a footbridge at 12 a.m. Monday.
Erma Edera had just finished covering a Southeast Asian Games event, and was on her way home when two men suddenly approached her while traversing a footbridge on EDSA-Pasay Rotonda, and held a knife to her waist while announcing the holdup.
The two suspects, who according to Edera were in their 20s and were not wearing masks, took her phone.
In incident reports submitted regularly to the Southern Police District, the area has been the site of numerous criminal activity such as theft, snatching, and robbery-holdup.
There was also an instance when illegal barkers were caught in possession of illegal drugs. A shooting incident was also reported on the same footbridge this year.
The area is under the Baclaran Police Community Precinct. According to the SPD, while there are personnel from the precinct deployed for SEA Games, these were not fixed since their main focus was anti-criminality.
Yet, at the time of the incident, there was no police personnel deployed at the footbridge, according to Edera.
Associate Chief of Police for Administration (ACOPA) Lt. Col. Deanry Francisco said that they will notify the PCP Commander.
The dark and grimy bridge serves as passageway for those who wish to cross from Taft Avenue to the other side to ride jeepneys heading to Taguig and various points in southern Metro Manila. It is also where the MRT Taft Station is located.
The Pasay PIO told Manila Bulletin that the local government of Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano was prioritizing the installation of LED lights at the footbridge. They said that the she has already talked with the Liga ng mga Barangay regarding the lighting although no date was given yet.