By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Amid calls from the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to increase police visibility, following a rise in petty crimes across the city, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, recently revealed the police force is currently “overstretched.”
“We are overstretched in personnel ever since we enhanced our patrolling and visibility,” he explained.
The BCPO director, instead, suggested reviewing strategies and the implementation of “covert patrolling.”
He added, criminals may be studying police officer patterns before committing crimes.
Earlier this week, Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito urged the BCPO to promote more police visibility throughout the city.
“They should be on the streets and visible, rather than staying in their office,” he stressed, adding policemen should be proactive, instead of reactive.
Beyond crimes such as theft and robbery, Distrito also wants to see more emphasis on combating vandalism, public smoking, and minors violating the nightly curfew./WDJ