By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The police chief of Negros Occidental’s Murcia town recommends limiting the operating hours of all restobars in the municipality following a bar brawl which claimed the lives of an off-duty cop and two civilians.

Police Major Mark Joel Reclamado said Murcia Mayor Jerry Rojas will issue an ordinance requiring restobars in the town to limit their operating hours and have their own security personnel.

Based on his proposal, all drinking establishments must stop their operations at 12:00 midnight for now, until a formal ordinance can be passed.

He also recommended establishments to install additional closed-circuit television cameras and the re-activation of roving barangay tanods.

The police chief added that they will try their best to assure the residents that they are safe despite the recent crime incidents that took place.

On Friday morning, March 31, Police Corporal Gabby Castillo was stabbed multiple times in a brawl he tried to pacify.

Also killed were Benedict Maguad and Marvin Guardavilla.

Meanwhile, Police Staff Sergeants Namilou Sapuan and Jaytie Misme, and bar owner Fernando Diaz were wounded in the brawl.

The suspects — identified as Marjun Gallano, Junjie Gallano and Venus Grace Catbagan — were arrested and charged with multiple frustrated murder over the incident./DGB, WDJ