MANILA, Philippines – Opposition lawmakers have called for the mandatory installation of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and the positioning of x-ray machines in all commercial establishments to ensure people’s safety as it expressed disappointment over the authorities’ failure to address rising criminality. House Assistant Minority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the newly-elected President of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) who is being groomed to be the next minority leader, said security measures should be put in place to guard the public safety. ‘We in the minority are calling for the mandatory installation of CCTV and x-ray machines in all big shopping malls nationwide as an added hedge against further incidents of crimes,” he said. House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez asked various law enforcement agencies to double their efforts in neutralizing lawless elements.
”The government should do more to restrain the alarming rate of criminality in the country and the growing brazenness and impunity by which crimes are now being committed, even during this period when a gun ban is in effect,” he said. ‘This includes reviewing existing policies like arming security guards in the NCR malls to prevent robberies and shoot outs like what recently happened in SM Megamall,” he added. House Assistant Majority Leader and Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna is also concerned about the rising criminality, which he said would affect the government’s efforts to attract more foreign tourists. ”It’s more fun in the Philippines slogan might have gone to waste should the Aquino government fail to address the rising criminality.
I am saddened about the AP (Associated Press) report that was carried by several international news agencies regarding the series of gun-related crimes that have beset our nation during the first month of the year,” he said. ”Whether we like it or not, this would have a serious effect on the efforts of the Department of Tourism and the government in general in rebranding our country as a haven for tourists and a safe place to be in,” he said.
