Carbon hopes innocent civilians are not caught in the crossfire

Local businessmen have expressed concern over the reported order by President Rodrigo Duterte to Police Lt. Colonel Jovie Espenido in his assignment to Bacolod City. Frank Carbon, executive officer for the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said the pronouncement may have “negative implications” on the image of the city.
“It may affect the decision of possible tourists, investors, and those planning to hold their conventions and conferences in Bacolod,” Carbon said in a radio interview.
The businessman added, he hopes no innocent civilians will be caught in the crossfire when the police official begins his anti-drug campaign as head of BCPO City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU).
Duterte earlier ordered Espenido’s assignment to Bacolod City claiming the locality has been “badly hit” by illegal drugs.
“Bacolod is badly hit now and I placed Espenido there, ‘yung kinatakutan nila na pulis  (Bacolod City is badly hit right now and I place Espenido there to have the police intimidate them),” he stated. “Sabi ko, ‘Go there and you are free to kill everybody.’ T*** ina (I said, ‘Go there and you are free to kill everybody’ [Expletive]).”
Espenido recently assumed his post as deputy operations director for the Bacolod City Police Office as well as CDEU chief./DGB, WDJ