By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
In response to the robbery and rape of a call center agent last week, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod City passed a resolution urging the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) to strictly inspect all tricycles traveling in the city, yesterday morning.
In an interview with Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito, he said the incident is a wake up call for law enforcement in the city.
He said the public, especially those working at night, have no other choice but to ride tricycles, due to the lack of other public utility vehicles (PUV) during late evening and early morning hours.
Distrito said colorum tricycle operators in the city do not have business permits and licenses.
“We have to be aggressive about inspecting our tricycles, and they should secure their business permits, registrations, and licenses in order to operate,” Distrito said.
Besides the regulation on tricycles, Distrito also announced they passed a separate resolution requiring all businesses and establishments in the city to have close circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
The councilor explained the resolution was in response to the rising number of burglary incidents at local businesses and cars parked on the streets.
He said the resolution aims to hasten the investigation being done by police every time there is a burglary incident in the city.
“Thieves are getting bolder and, even at daytime, they aggressively attack parked cars and ransack everything that is left inside,” Distrito stressed.
Distrito added car owners should also be responsible with their vehicles and they shouldn’t leave their valuable inside to avoid the prying eyes of robbers./WDJ