THE Bacolod City Council will hold a closed door meeting with Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director Colonel Henry Biñas and its deputy city director for operation Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido to discuss the peace and order situation in the city.

This, after the City Council earlier approved a resolution requesting Biñas and Espenido to appraise and to appear in closed door executive meeting before the City Council on the peace and order situation within the Bacolod City territorial jurisdiction.

The resolution was authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr.

Gamboa said high crimes were reported in Bacolod City especially murder and drug-related crimes, and there is a need to apprise the Sanggunian so that it can recommend and formulate policies and ordinances to help prevent and resolve these crimes.

The councilor said Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that within their respective territorial Jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balance ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, preserve the comfort of its inhabitants.

Last week, a 33-year old man who was abducted at Purok Cereza, Barangay 3, Bacolod City was found dead in Felisa Road fronting East Homes 6 Subdivision, Barangay Mansilingan. Police identified the killed man as Richard Tutop, of Purok Cereza, Barangay 3.

Tutop, a former detainee from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for violation of illegal drugs, sustained gunshot wounds on his head.

The police are looking into the victim’s involvement in illegal drugs and personal grudges as possible motives in the killing.

The Police Stations 2 and 7 are still conducting a thorough investigation to determine the identity of the suspects.