Holdups rampant at Benguet-Ilocos road;cops tighten security

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Police authorities in Ilocos and Cordillera regions ordered their men to tighten security along the Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes road to ensure the safety of motorists, especially vegetable truckers and traders, from being victimized by robbers.

Chief Supt. Ramon V. Gatan, Ilocs police director, said he directed the Ilocos Sur provincial police office to strengthen their police visibility and foot and mobile patrols, especially at night, in order to prevent unscrupulous individuals from victimizing innocent individuals.

Gatan issued the orders upon receiving the complaints of several vegetable traders from Benguet who were robbed by six still unidentified bonnet-wearing armed men who took from them their cash and personal belongings, particularly at the sharp curve of Sitio Camay- Gitlangan in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur last week.

For his part, Chief Supt. Orlando Pestano, Cordillera police director, ordered police in Benguet to work double time in patrolling the stretch of the 43-km Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes road, especially within Benguet, so motorists will feel secure when using the road as an alternate route to the lowlands.

He said there is a possibility the robbers who victimized several vegetable traders and truckers in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur might be from Benguet since they were able to escape through the Baguyos River leading towards Mankayan town.

Vegetable farmers, traders and truckers from the northern towns of Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao are using the Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes road as an alternate route to bring their produce to the lowlands and the La Trinidad vegetable trading post since the Halsema Highway, the main artery to the Cordillera hinterlands, has only been opened only for light vehicles. – Dexter A. See