by Andrew Doga-ong

BONTOC, Mt. Province- Close circuit television (CCTV) cameras are becoming effective tools in identifying as well as catching criminals in the province.

Over the weekend, policemen arrested three robbery suspects who robbed a drug store here on the night of April 10.

One of the suspects was identified through the footages recorded in the CCTV camera installed inside the Ivan Pharmacy Plus, a drugstore located near the Bontoc General Hospital.

This is the second instance where security cameras installed inside the establishment helped policemen identify and later on arrest crime suspects.

Bontoc police spot report identified the suspects as a certain Domingo Madarang of Pudo, Natonin; Arnel Bagangan of Alab Proper, Bontoc; and Ezny Loyd Wadingan of Angkileng, Sagada.

Policemen, in their subsequent surveillance operations, arrested the suspects who were again about to rob somebody inside a parked vehicle in front of the Chico Terrace building along the national road.
Madarang admitted readily when confronted with the evidence.


A cellular phone reloader, which was among the stolen items in the drug store, was recovered from the suspects. An appropriate case is being readied against the suspects.

In November 2010, two persons tried to rob the Sagada Rural Bank Branch located in Sabangan, Mt. Province. Through the images captured by the CCTV camera installed inside the bank, the police were able to identify the suspects. A Municipal Circuit Court then issued a warrant of arrest against the suspects for the crime of frustrated robbery in a private building.

With the relentless efforts of police who work closely with local officials, the suspects voluntarily surrendered to the police authorities after eluding arrest for more than three months. *(JDP/AD – PIA-CAR, Mt. Province)