The recent daylight bank robbery holdup at the Bank of Commerce premises (along busy CPG Avenue) was a clear indication that armed suspects have gone bolder these days. Per public perception, it may be because several recent smaller holdups and criminalities were left unsolved by the police authorities.

But last Tuesday's bank robbery was solved within three days. That may be quite unprecedented, considering.

We basically credit the solution of the crime to the wholehearted cooperation of the cross-section of the community but with media playing its vital role in an instance of grave emergency. We don't find it worthwhile magnifying the claims of who was first to barge to the room of the Dumaluan Beach Resort where the rob group leader (Meloy Garcia) and his wounded companion (Gilven Nuez) checked in minutes after the incident.

But, what is rewarding to note is the public concern shown by the people. It is like a lighted candle amid the darkness.

The fast manhunt operations by the police deserve to be commended as the rob case was solved after three days.

Many say it was the most "dramatic day" in local radio broadcasting when the air-lanes were filled with the blow-by-blow account of the midday bank robbery. It was not a usual fare in local radio hearing such an active police story unfolding.

Since the drama started, our sister station DYRD went into full swing action coverage with its field reporters at the crime scene. The coverage ignited fantastic feedback. A radio listener tipped off that they saw suspected robbers taking a quick lunch in a carenderia near BGY Enterprises. When Meloy Garcia, the group's leader checked in at the resort, the security men of the resort were fully aware of the rob-holdup as they were glued to the DYRD radio coverage.

In fact, an over-alert radio listener also texted the station that they noted an armed man board the last trip of a fast seacraft to Cebu. Alerted by the radio coverage, the shipping lines authorities checked the report and found a police officer, not a rob suspect, depositing his firearm to the vessel's desk. But the point is crystal clear, community vigilance is an advocacy whose time has arrived.

The two-day radio marathon coverage seemed endless as the public continuously kept glued to the station until the arrest of the two remaining suspects in Loay town: Arsenio "Butyok" Polo and Gerardo "Al" Fuentes. According to other media reports, 24 hours after Garcia's arrest, a Cebu PNP team was dispatched and arrested one other dreaded member of the Robbery Gang, Rodolfo Artega, in San Miguel town.

With the arrest of the five suspects, the notorious Bohol Robbery Gang has been "substantially neutralized."

This was one of the finest moments in broadcasting wherein the concerned and dynamic public was able to indirectly, but, actively participate in the manhunt operations. We found a civic-spirited public our able partner in public service. No amount of money can replace that feeling of satisfaction.

We feel that with the modern technology on texting, the media can be a major tool in the fight against criminality as long as the authorities are dedicated as well.

But, first to be given the tribute to the solution of the robbery should be the courageous security guards of Bank of Commerce: Remegio Cañizar who was gunned down while trying to shoot at the armed suspects, together with the two other wounded guards Tirso Fullido and Meliton Lamoste. DYRD's top rated programs launched a fund drive for the security guards receiving no less than P42,000 from kind hearted radio listeners. A concerned citizen in Melbourne Australia logged on to the dyRD website to say they are gathering Australian dollars to remit to the victims of this crime.

But evidently, there was no police visibility at the crime scene and we had pointed the possible reasons why in previous editorials. So if not of the defense of the guards on duty, it could have been another harvest day for the armed group and confident to waylay the next victim.

The public is incredulous as to how the so-called "intelligence fund" of the city government is probably used to beef up the detective network of the police. Under normal circumstances, the city mayor is assured of 3% of the budget which could be no less than P6 million.

The public likewise awaits the action of Mayor Dan Lim on his declaration to implement the closing of night spots by 12 midnight together with the strict imposition of the liquor ban and the curfew on minors by 10 p.m. And he vowed to start this campaign on Sept. 1. This was one of the points announced by the mayor in his previous Mayor's Report. We hope he will be implementing what he says (among the other things he mentions during his 2-hour weekly radio program.)

The cat now inside the bag, the Bohol Robbery Gang, is a big catch.

According to media accounts, it had sown terror in Cebu and Negros Oriental whose Provincial PNP Director Sr. Supt. Ramon Buenafe put Dumaguete City on red alert just a week ago as the Gang was supposed to "hit town."

Just like the detestable "Bonnie and Clyde" robbery gang, the Bohol Group had an awful reputation that preceded them. Suspected to be backed by a big-time Manila financier, the Gang was hunted for the spate of six holdups in Cebu City: Du Ek Sam, Bacang Rural Bank, Metrobank armed van, the P 2.7-milliion La Nueva Supermart and the P2.5-million Penbank robberies.

Bloodthirsty as they are, the Gang was willing to exchange fire, armed usually with UZI Ingrams, 9 mm pistols and baby armalite rifles. The "red alert" in Dumaguete City possibly forced the Gang's detour to Bohol to commit its last and final crime.

According to Cebu PNP Director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, the Bohol Gang was allegedly started in Manila by reputed Kuratong Baleleng member Roy Fernandez. A break-up of the gang occurred last year and Garcia fled to Bohol to set up his own Bohol Robbery Gang alongside Harris Artega (brother of Rodolfo) who was later gunned down in Cebu.

Rodolfo Artega is infamous for his alleged participation in the Dasmariñas Cavite and Sta Cruz Manila bank robberies, kidnapping of rich scion Ryan Yu in Manila and the holdups of bank armor vans in Mandaluyong City (Manila) and Montalban, Rizal.

It is with such an atrocious record that we all heave a sigh of relief that the end of their criminal days should happen in the province for which they have brought shame with their notoriety.

Enough of romanticizing "Bonnie and Clyde."

For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com