DOT director assails Boracay cops for sitting on robbery case
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Edwin Trompeta chided the Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office (BSTPO) for sitting on the robbery incident which victimized 10 Koreans last February in one of the resorts in Boracay Island.
Trompeta said until now Chief Inspector Jess Mendez, BSTPO chief has not furnished a copy of any investigation report relative to the robbery incident inside Alice in Wonderland resort. He could not ascertain if indeed the police conducted an investigation after the department made its inquiry.
The News Today tried to reach Mendez but the latter refused to answer his phone when called and did not bother to give his side regarding the Koreans' case.
The last time Trompeta heard from Mendez about the case was after the department asked for a report regarding the complaint of the Koreans. During such conversation, Mendez even confided to Trompeta the possibility of an "inside job" since there were no signs of forcible entry in the room which was occupied by the Koreans.
Since then, Trompeta left the matter to Mendez as it involves police work. He waited for the result but until now he has not heard of any development.
Until this date, it is not yet clear on whether the police have already identified the suspects and has called the resort's personnel who have access in the room key.
The tourism department wants a clear-cut report in the incident as it will create a bad impact on the province as well as the country's tourism industry should the case remain unsolved.
In 2005, tourist arrivals recorded by the tourism field office in Boracay showed, the Koreans posted the highest number of foreign tourist arrival in the white sand beach island numbering to 100,922.
Trompeta also reacted on the statement earlier made made by Mendez that some foreigners have created a scenario or faked their robberies just for insurance purposes. Mendez however did not categorically state whether the robbery in the Alice in Wonderland resort was also a fake one.
Trompeta said the police should not make a general rule that all robbery cases involving foreigners are all make believe just for insurance purposes. Though, the director admitted that there are also some shady foreigners who commit such act.
Not all foreigners who visit the country have the will to insure their personal belongings and cash before leaving their country of origin. Ninety-nine percent of the foreigners do not register their belongings for insurance purposes, Trompeta said.
"Police should conduct an investigation on the complaint be it a fake one or not. They (police) could not ascertain if there was an inside job or it is a fake robbery if they will not probe the incident," said Trompeta.