Meeting planned to discuss spike in crime

By Paulo Loreto Lim

The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed resolutions geared towards enhancing safety during their recent session earlier this week.

The local legislative body adopted guidelines by the Philippine Coast Guard for safety requirements with regard to beach resorts and pool facilities; along with requesting the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) to deploy emergency response teams at festival sites throughout the duration of the upcoming MassKara Festival.

The resolution specifically highlights the Tourism Strip along Lacson Street, the Bacolod Public Plaza, and the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) as areas where revelers are likely to gather during the annual celebration.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Em Ang, who penned the said pieces of legislation, also presented a resolution to convene the SP, along with Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia; barangay captains; Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) acting director, Police Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky; and the city’s 10 police station commanders, to address the spike in criminal incidents in the city.

The measure passed, with Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yet to determine a place and time for the meeting.

According to Ang, “[Over] the last few weeks, there [have been] daily reports of hold-ups and [robberies] all over the city that have gone viral on social media.”

However, in response to the chatter on the internet, Wanky earlier declared, “Bacolod is safe.”

“If there is an agency which can declare a security threat, whether an area is safe or not, it is the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito earlier responded to the claims by saying those making such statements are “just scaring people.”/PLL, WDJ