SEEKING “divine guidance” from God amid the series of shooting incidents, a Holy Mass was sponsored by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) at its headquarters on Monday, July 20, 2022.

Major Sherlock Gabana, spokesperson of BCPO, said they really need “divine intervention” so that they could look for witnesses to these crimes.

“We hope that through this, the hearts of the witnesses will be touched and they will be given courage to come out and help in giving justice to the victims,” Gabana said.

He said most of these cases are illegal-drug related.

On Monday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson urged the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Nocppo) to extend help to BCPO in deterring the killings in the city.

“It’s a welcome development but Nocppo has been supportive and helpful (to us),” Gabana added.

He reiterated that the BCPO is on top of the situation and that the public should not worry.

Since June 1, nine shooting incidents took place in Bacolod City wherein seven of the victims were killed.

Police records showed that only Police Stations 7 and 10 currently have no shooting incidents.

Meanwhile, Gabana said that the Mass on Monday was also a thanks giving for the peaceful implementation of the polls last month.

BCPO has no recorded election-related incidents.