Mayor Evelio Leonardia expressed his elation yesterday that for the first time the chief of the Philippine National Police  (PNP) has set foot at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).

“This is an honor and, for the record, this is the first time ever that an incumbent PNP chief visited the Bacolod City Government Center,” Leonardia said after seeing off PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, who called on him yesterday.

Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran received Eleazar at the steps of the BCGC, where they were joined by other PNP officers and local government executives.

The mayor said he discussed with Eleazar the need for police visibility in Bacolod, especially at this time of the pandemic.

“One of the main issues that I relayed to him (Eleazar) and Colonel (Thomas Joseph) Martir,  is that police visibility is very important, especially that there is still a surge in COVID-19 cases,” Leonardia said.

He said he also assured Eleazar of the continued support of the city government to the local police.

The mayor disclosed that the local government unit (LGU) will add at least 12 service vehicles for use by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

Meanwhile, Eleazar said he paid a call on Leonardia to personally thank him for his help to the BCPO.

“I am also giving my commitment to the mayor that the police are here to make good connections with our LGU in line with our service to the people,” the PNP chief said.

Eleazar added that he gave guidance to BCPO acting director Police Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, also a Bacolodnon, to “continue the programs of previous BCPO directors, maintain  good relationship with the different stakeholders, and make sure to avoid violence or crimes especially that election is near.”

The PNP top brass said he has given directives to Martir “to study the peculiarity of various communities and the dynamics of politics.”/WDJ