Hotel, resto owners beef up security
Hotel managers and restaurant owners in the city met with police officials Friday last week following reports that a certain group is targeting such establishments in their extortion racket.
Iloilo Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association (IHRRA) president Robert Ferrer said members of their association have agreed to coordinate with each other in case they receive any extortion threats.
Ferrer said they have to handle the situation as immediate as they could. There will be proper communication from among the members and the law enforcement agencies concerned.
During the meeting, a seminar on the enhancement of security in establishments as well as disaster management was conducted.
Ferrer said the seminar is one step to remind and educate the security personnel of each member establishments.
Earlier, there were reports that unidentified groups are capitalizing on the Glorietta 2 mall explosion in Makati to extort money from hotels and restaurants in the city.
Ferrer did not comment on the report but stressed they know how to handle the situation should similar cases happen here.
Aside from the establishment owners and security personnel, the seminar was also attended by Supt. Ranulfo Demiar, deputy director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), Sr. Insp. Kim Legada of the Iloilo City Mobile Group, Darwin Papa and Jose Sadiang-abay of the Iloilo Crisis Management Office.
Manny Gruenberg of the Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) assured that every hotel and restaurant in the city has its own disaster preparedness plan.
"The hotel personnel must know the steps in identifying prank calls. They should immediately inform the authorities if they receive calls that needs immediate action from the authorities," said Gruenberg.
He also suggested for hotels and restaurant owners to conduct disaster drills every quarter to ensure that their personnel are adept in reacting to any disaster situations.