THE Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas intensified its anti-criminality campaign after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered to strip the Philippine National Police (PNP) of its role in the government's drug war.
Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, director of PRO-Western Visayas, during his visit in Bacolod City Monday to send off the security forces for MassKara Festival, said they are concentrating on the reduction of eight focused crimes like theft, robbery, physical injuries, carnapping, motornapping, homicide, murder, and rape.
“We will strengthen our police presence to reach our target,” Binag said.
Through the deployment of more personnel in streets, he said there can be deterrence in crimes.
Binag said the police should always “perform as they also transform.”
For Bacolod City, Binag said they will have to assess first if there is indeed a need to add more policemen.
A total of 100 policemen from the deactivated Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region were permanently moved to Bacolod City Police Office to supplement the more than 600 city police forces.
On October 10, Duterte issued a memorandum instructing the police to let the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) handle all the operations concerning the drug menace, as provided by Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, or the Republic Act 9165.
Duterte’s order came on the heels of controversial drug operations carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP), which resulted in deaths of suspects.
Binag said they will extend help in case the PDEA needs the police.