The Taguig City police denied a Facebook post by a netizen on the alleged robberies and killings that are happening in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
“The Taguig City Police denies a social media post claiming rampant robbery incidents in Bonifacio Global City that resulted in the death of victims. Following the viral post, Police Major Judge Rowe Donato of Substation 1 held a dialogue with security agencies in the area,” the Taguig police stated on Oct. 5.
It added: “Mr. Christian Nicolie Atienza, senior property manager of Asia Affinity, the firm responsible for the security of the JP Morgan Chase & Co. Tower (the company referred to in the post), categorically stated that no such robbery-holdup incidents were officially reported to them or brought to their attention.”
“He also vehemently denied the allegation that victims were killed in front of the establishment. Mr. Atienza issued a certification denying that the incidents mentioned in the social media post took place. Our own police sub-station 1 in BGC has not also received any report of such incidents,” the police said.
Netizen Ojie Sol Cruz posted on Facebook on Oct. 4 about the alleged unreported crimes in BGC.
“Why aren't the crimes committed in front of a very large US Financial Institution at BGC being reported? It's been several weeks now, yet nothing on the news or on social media. This early morning , another body was found in front of the building!!! Very alarming!!!” Cruz posted on Facebook.
He added, “Employees also fell victims to holdups, and some even killed for it! yet nobody speaks up!! I pity the affected families screaming for justice!!! What is BGC security and Taguig admin doing about it?! “To my friends and relatives working there, be extra careful and alert at all times. I just had to throw this out there since nobody did!!”
Unfortunate
The police and the security agency said that “it is very unfortunate that there are some individuals who paint a negative picture of our safety and security status. We ask everyone to refrain from sharing malicious and fake news as it will only cause panic and fear.”
On the Taguig police’s Facebook page, some netizens commented that crimes are happening in BGC and urged the Taguig police to increase their visibility. Two netizens posted photos of people lying on the streets.
Others said Makati has jurisdiction over the area and not Taguig.
“Namatay ang ktrabaho ko jan sa bgc jan mismo sa tapat ng philplans ! Pero wlang binalita. Sobrang dami nang mamaty sa bgc wag nyo nang linisin sarili nyo di nyo na mabablik buhay nang kaibgan ko. (May co-worker died in BGC across Philplans. But there was no news. There are many who died in BGC, don’t just absolve yourselves. You cannot bring back my friend’s life),” one netizen commented.
Another posted, “Pero what can you say about the incident that happened yesterday (??) na around 7 am, the body is still laying along the road. I hope there will be a statement related to that and other incidents for that matter.”
“Marami ng employees ng company namin ang nahoholdap jan near philplans and 1 recently died due to multiple stab wounds. Ang lakas niyo manita sa mga nagyoyosi pero sa mga areas na madalas may maholdap wala kayong security. (Many of our company’s employees were held up near Philplans and one recently died due to multiple stab wounds. You are very strict in confronting smokers but in areas where holdup is rampant, you don’t have security),” one netizen wrote.
“This is such a defensive response over what you claim to be 'fake news.' Why not reassure people that, whether it's true or not, you prioritize your people's safety and will make sure that police will be more visible in your turf?” another said.
One commented, “Nakakalungkot lang kase the police itself denying the incident happened in BGC. Talamak na yung holdup yet parang tinatakpan nila na parang walang nangyare (It is saddening that the police itself denying the incident happened in BGC. Holdup is rampant yet they are covering it up as if nothing happened).”
Police visibility
On police visibility, the Taguig police said, “Kaugnay sa pinaigting na police visibility ng NCRPO sa buong Metro Manila, sinisiguro ng ating kapulisan sa Lungsod ng Taguig na ang BGC ay nananatiling ligtas sapagkat ang bawat sulok ng lugar ay nararating ng mga nagpapatrolyang mga pulis gamit ang scooter o motorsiklo maliban sa mga foot patrollers kasama ang walang tigil na pag-ikot ng ating mga mobile (About the strengthened police visibility by the NCRPO in the whole Metro Manila, our police in Taguig assure that BGC continues to be safe because all corners of the area are reached by patrolling police using scooters or motorcycles except for foot patrollers including continued roaming of our mobile).”
"Sa pagkakataong ito, hinihikayat namin ang ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri at mag ingat sa mga kumakalat na mga balita at iba pang isyu sa ating social media account lalo na kung ito ay nagdudulot ng pagkabahala at pagkalito sa panig ng magbabasa." (We encourage everyone to refrain from sharing unverified news that may cause undue panic.)
"Lagi po ninyong tatandaan, prayoridad ng inyong kapulisan ang kaligtasan ng bawat mamamayan ganun din ang kaayusan sa ating lungsod. Bukas po ang ating tanggapan bente kwatro oras upang tugunan at aksyonan ang anumang idudulog o ipapa-alam sa amin katulad ng ganitong insidente." (Our priority is the safety of every citizen. Our police stations are open 24 hours to respond to any incident.
The Facebook account of Ojie Sol Cruz is not accessible as of this writing.