Kudos to the cops!

Congratulations to the Bacolod City police headed by Senior Superintendent Ricardo de la Paz for their quick identification of the suspects in the daring robbery at the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, that had lost the coop a shopping P3.6 million in cash collected from its consumers. The heist was conducted so efficiently that it was the common conclusion of most residents that the perpetrators would never be identified.

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But it seems we have underestimated our cops, and we now feel assured that they know their stuff. When de la Paz first announced that he believed the culprits were not from this area, considering their derring-do in not even covering their faces as they divested the personnel in charge of the money, some know-it-all people mocked them, saying they were just making up stories to cover up for their deficiencies and claiming they already had photos of the robbers.

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But I am happy to note that, apparently Chief de la Paz knew what he was talking about. Yesterday, he already had the names of some of the hold-up men, and all their pictures! Yes, some still had no names, but, somehow, I think it won’t be long before they are all identified, because police organizations obviously have their numbers already. And, to think that they even had records of past crimes committed by the same group and their associations.

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Many, I confess I was one of them, thought the cops were grasping at straws when they said the culprits were from Mindanao. Indeed, they turned up to be from that area, and their vehicles were also traced to Zamboanga. Now we have to do our best to help our police trace those arrogant and over-confident criminals so they can be charged and meted penalties commensurate to their deeds. By the way, it is a strange coincidence that one of the identified robbers is named “Reynaldo Bacolod”. Could be related to the late wife of Ruben Ecleo, of whose murder he is accused? Her family name was also Bacolod.

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Meanwhile, CENECO has announced that it has already installed close circuit TV cameras to record those who come and go at their coop. Let’s no longer tease them about the old saw of locking the stable after the horse has ran away. What consumers only want to be assured of is that they are not made to pay for the lost P3.6 million as if it were part of their system’s losses. Somebody there has already declared that will not happen. Promise, ha?

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What’s in a name? Plenty, if you are like that boxer from Mexico who duped his Filipino opponent into fighting with him when, in fact, he was not the one contracted to meet our Boom Boom Bautista in that ring in Bohol. The boxer who arrived in the Philippines was also named Genaro Garcia, but it was later discovered that he was Genaro Panterita Garcia, and not Genaro Poblanito Garcia, who was supposed to fight Boom Boom. What a mess! This guy was a virtual unknown even in Mexico where his record was 10 wins and 11 losses, whereas the one who was supposed to come had a 38 wins, 8 losses and 22 knock-outs on his record.

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Whoever did the switching should be made to meet the full force of the law, if not one killer jab from our shortchanged boxer, Boom Boom, and a multi-million damage suit from ALA Promotions, owned by Bacoleño Bidoy Aldeguer and now managed by his son, Michael. Just imagine, they had to refund the thousands who bought tickets to the event, as it had become clear that they had the wrong fighter. The sports crew of the Manila Standard even checked the passport of the impostor and found that his real name on it was not even Genaro but Carlos and his family name was Gutierrez! Isn’t that another crime he could be sued for? And what has his “agent,” a certain Correa, has to say and what is his liability? I hope they are not rolling over in laughter back in Mexico City.

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Speaking of fakes, be careful about using or displaying your faux signature bags and shoes, especially if you are travelling abroad. The manufacturers of the genuine ones are now seriously running after the ones stealing their trademarks and designs, and you may be an innocent buyer, but you will also be charged if you are caught wearing or using them. It is no joke being apprehended at U.S. or European airports, you know. So, be wary.*

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