THE Bacolod City police met with taxi operators and the Bantay Banwa to talk on crime prevention measures against hold-ups and robberies victimizing taxicabs in the city.
The meeting at the City Mayor's Office was held to come up with solutions as to how to prevent taxi hold-ups.
One of the measures identified is for taxi drivers and operators to install red blinker lights at the rooftop of their taxicabs, which they can turn on as a distress signal in the event of danger or threat from passengers.
Anyone who notices the red blinker light shall take note of the name or plate number of the taxicab. They can also advise as to the direction the cab took. Anyone who will notice such distress sign is encouraged to immediately contact the nearest police station.
To report the incident, the following numbers may be dialed: 117, 166, 4346500 or 4346400.
All police stations, upon receiving the alarm, should immediately conduct pursuit operations.
They may establish checkpoint for the possible entry of the distressed taxicab.
All taxi drivers who notice the red blinker light shall also respond by following the distressed taxicab so as not to lose track of the vehicle and to render immediate assistance to the victim and inform the nearest police station.
Taxi drivers are also requested to log out at the nearest police station whenever transporting passengers outside of Bacolod City.
They have to record the following information: driver's name, date and time of departure, name of taxi, plate number, type and model and the names of the passengers.
They are likewise requested to log in at the nearest police station upon their return to the city.
The police office is requesting the support and cooperation of all concerned for the success of this campaign.
The meeting was presided over by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
It was attended by City Police Director Ronilo Quebrar, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office head Levy Pangue, and several taxi operators in the city, including the Manolita Belleza of R&M Taxi, Roberto Sibugan of RJS Taxi, Oscar Bedoa of M2J3 Taxi, Peter Uhlman of Tuhl Taxi and Mariano Maravilla of SNV Taxi. Dot Soliven of Bantay Banwa was also present.
