THE traffic lights along Lizares-Lacson Streets in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City are non-operational after unidentified perpetrators took its control panel on Sunday, May 28, Major Junji Liba, head of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) said Tuesday, May 30.

Liba said they discovered the incident on Sunday morning, May 28, when their maintenance personnel checked the traffic lights in the area.

“For now, traffic enforcers were deployed along Lizares-Lacson Streets to maintain the smooth flow of traffic,” he said.

He added that they are now coordinating with the establishment owners near the area along with the investigators of Police Station 1 to check the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera to determine the identity of the perpetrators.

Liba noted that they will also coordinate with various junk shops for the possible recovery of the panel board.

“Possibly, the robbers will sell the item to a junk shop so we are hopeful to recover it,” Liba said.

He said they will make a request to purchase a new panel for the operation of the traffic lights, adding that they will also ask the assistance of various police stations to secure the 27 traffic lights panel boards in different barangays.*