It is dangerous to go alone—especially if one wanders the streets just outside the University.
In the previous issue of The LaSallian, it was reported that theft cases within the vicinity of the campus have been on the rise, an observation supported by data from the Security Office. Yet this is far from being the only thing students should be concerned about.
Cases of burglary inside condominiums, brawls on the street, and riding-in-tandem incidents ranging from robbery to homicide have recently been making rounds online, once again raising questions on safety around DLSU.
A concern of safety
It was around 11 pm last July 3 when Denise Ang (AB-CAM, ‘14), who was out of the house at the time, received a distressed phone call from her sister at home. Gunshots were heard from outside their apartment located along Sandejas St., which is within walking distance from DLSU and other nearby institutions. From out the window, Ang’s family saw their security guard bleeding to death on the street.
“My sister had panic attacks,” she recalls, noting that they had to spend the night elsewhere. “Lahat kami takot. I feel like we are not safe anymore.”
(We were all afraid.)
Upon reviewing footage captured by a closed circuit television camera (CCTV), the suspects were identified to be two men riding-in-tandem, which Vice Chancellor for Administration Dr. Arnel Uy declared was the “modus operandi choice of today” in a previous interview with The LaSallian.
In a separate incident, filmmaking student Juan Saavedra from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) was also a victim of the riding-in-tandem modus. He remembers being shocked when motorcyclists snatched his phone off his hands. He made an attempt to run after them, but realized it was futile and gave up the chase.
“Honestly, [the incident] makes me want to move back to Laguna,” Saavedra laments. He acknowledges that he always knew of the potential dangers in Manila, but experiencing theft first hand left an impression on him. If it were not for his scholarship, he admits that he would have considered dropping out and moving back to Laguna.
Beyond riding-in-tandem cases, incidents of brawls occurring on the street have also been reported. Royanna Martin (IV, AEI-BSA) recalls witnessing a group of people running and punching one another on the road while cars were passing by. “The guards from [One] Archer’s [Place] just watched it happen. They weren’t even shouting for anyone to stop,” she narrates, surmising that they were most probably “used to it”. She claims that brawls occur most often on Fridays, and that they happen so frequently that she has been “desensitized” by the violence.
Closer than you think
Recent incidents have shown that one does not need to be out on the street to be in harm’s way. In fact, it can happen in places considered safe. Franz Tacogdoy (IV, ENT) recounts leaving his condominium unit at Vista Taft Residences sometime in the afternoon. When he returned early in the evening, he discovered the lock on his door was damaged and suspected something was wrong.
After inspecting his room, he found that his laptop, camera, and cash were no longer there. Obtaining assistance from the condominium’s security personnel to review the CCTV footage, Tacogdoy found out that the suspect entered and exited the premises with ease, breaking into his room in 15 seconds. Unfortunately, they could not identify the suspect.
“I already expected that there [are] these kinds of [activities] on the streets, but I was caught off guard [by] the condo incident,” Tacogdoy says in an online interview. He has since increased the number of locks on his door and has considered buying a safe. When asked whether the experience has changed his impression of safety in the area, he notes that he still finds the campus safe because he “trusts [his] fellow Lasallians.”
‘Sanctuary for all students’
Uy emphasizes that distinguishing incidents that happen inside and outside the campus is an important factor in calibrating the University’s response. Section 5.5.2 of the DLSU Student Handbook defines the University’s jurisdiction to be within a periphery of 200 meters from the edges of the campus.
Drinking establishments along Fidel Reyes St., such as Barn and Beach House, where most brawls reportedly originate from, fall within this area. Uy confirms receiving such reports, but clarifies that the challenge lies in determining if DLSU students were involved. Most of those tagged in incidents, he claims, come from other schools. On July 26, the aforementioned drinking establishments have since been banned from selling alcoholic beverages following the issuance of an order that enforced a previous city ordinance.
Despite certain limitations, Safety Office Director Ronald Dabu highlights that along with Task Force Safe Schools (TFSS)—a collaboration between DLSU, DLSU-CSB, and St. Scholastica’s College that ensures a safe space within their vicinity—the University formalized a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine National Police (PNP). In their arrangement, the Security Office would provide additional reinforcements to the PNP to assist in certain security concerns.
CCTVs have also been essential tools in identifying potential suspects, Dabu notes. Heavily utilized in assessing vehicular incidents and cases of harassment outside University grounds, certain cameras are placed in areas known to be “hotspots” of criminal activity, he discloses.
While the CCTV footage is being closely monitored by security, Uy does address the concern of data privacy, stating that it is adjusted to comply with the Data Privacy Act. Moreover, Dabu also assures that the University collaborates with local barangays and condominiums in conducting talks and seminars to train crime response volunteers.
Determined to make sure the University becomes a “sanctuary for all students”, he assures the student body that the Security Office can be depended on when it comes to cases of violence, such as bar brawls, with emergency teams, ambulances, and first aiders ready nearby.
“We are trying to help each other so that if something happens, we are prepared at the very least,” Uy confirms.
