MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/29 July) – Members of the local business community warned they may close shop for a day or two and stage a rally if Mayor Leandro Jose Catarata fails to address unabated criminality in the city.

“We are law-abiding citizens but we are dismayed. We are in the process of showing our protest,” Raul Alkuino, whose family owns several businesses, said.

In a peace and order forum on July 27 initiated by the Valencia City Chamber of Commerce, business owners aired their misgivings on what they perceived to be the inability of the local government to deal with the surge in crimes especially theft and robbery.

Chamber president Dr. Efren D.C. Villahermosa Jr. said the crime rate has become “very alarming.”

Supt. Narciso Domingo, who assumed as city police chief on July 18, told the participants that compared to last year’s figures, the cases of car thefts in the city increased by 16 percent, robbery by 6 percent, theft by 47 percent, and murder incidents by 32 percent.

Domingo’s predecessor, Supt. Adonis Mutia, was sacked amid complaints of unabated criminality.

After Mutia, it was Catarata’s turn to face criticisms. The mayor, who was accused of lacking in political will and being slow in acting [on the peace and order situation] was a no-show in the forum.

“He (Catarata) should give immediate solution to the alarming robbery and related cases affecting not only the businessmen but the other sectors as well,” the group said in their first suggestion for Catarata, who they also asked to “stay always in Valencia specially that the non-index crime rate recently has significantly increased”.

But Catarata denied the allegations in a text message for his reaction on the group’s suggestions.

“Peace and order is always a priority that’s why there is a sustained campaign against any threat to peace and order,” he said.

“The police are trained professionals.

Let’s trust them and work with them.[]