TAPA condemns the Murder of Truck Driver

The Chairman of Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), Mr. Jason Teo, condemned the Murder of Henry Baraquias, the driver of a truck and the serious injuries suffered by his helper Bryan Eduarde, during the apparent hijacking of their vehicle last Friday 16th September 2011 in Tondo, Manila, Philippines, which was carrying toiletries.

Mr Teo said, “The level of violence used in this attack is unprecedented and the thoughts & sympathy of our members are extended to the victim’s families”. Mr Teo appealed for anyone with information to contact the Police immediately.

Mr Teo went onto say “Attacks on employees in the supply chain carrying high value or consumable goods were on the increase and any form of violence used to commit theft was completely unacceptable and would not be tolerated. TAPA would use its International experience to meet with the relevant Government departments and Law Enforcement Agencies and raise the issue of violent crime”.

TAPA Asia Vice Chairman Tony Lugg said, “TAPA members would continue to work closely with Law Enforcement Agencies against criminal attacks on the Supply Chain.

TAPA has developed a system of alerts called the Incident Information Service (IIS) to inform our members of these and other similar attacks through a system of alerts”.

The Incident Information Service (IIS) was launched in November 2009 following increase cargo crime in the region. Tony Lugg said, “The IIS is a database of freight crimes occurring against the industry and TAPA members”. The IIS database stores incidents such as crimes of hijacking, robbery, warehouse burglary, fraud, theft from facilities and thefts from and of the vehicle & load.

Tony Lugg said “TAPA members in the Philippines had reported over 60 incidents to TAPA in the last 2 years, of which, 40 incidents were hijacking and 17 included the use of violent or the threat of violence. 13 of the hijacks involved criminals ‘dressed as bogus Police Officers’. The value of losses of the reported incidents exceeded $1.8M USD and an increase in theft of consumable products had been seen in the Philippines”.

Lugg went onto say “The Supply Chain industry is urged to report their cargo crime incident in strict confidence to the TAPA IIS Service at incidents@tapa-asia.org”.