COUNCILOR Al Victor Espino said Friday there's a need to legislate the proposed installation of close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) and alarm systems in business establishments in Bacolod that engaged big amount of money.
This after Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Senior Superintendent Celestino Guara Jr., requesting City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the City Council to formulate and come up with an ordinance requiring all pawnshops to install CCTVs and alarm system as one of the requirements in securing their business permit.
Guara, chair of the City Council committee on police, security and jail management, noted that based to the Joint Anti-Bank Robbery Action Committee (Jabrac) last December 2, 2009, at the Manila Camp Crame, all chiefs of police are directed to seek help of local executives to facilitate the implementation of putting up the CCTVs.
Espino said institutionalizing the use of CCTVs is in order to speed up the solution of crimes in the city, noting that he has already call the businessmen in the city, especially those dealing with cash during office hours like pawnshops, lending institutions, drug stores, and even groceries, to come up with certain measures for their safety, adding that the Bacolod police could formulate an action through this plan.
He said there's also some businessman thinking that it would be an additional expense on their part, "but, it's also helping us for the speedy investigation of the case."
He added they also talked with volunteers' groups such as motorcycle clubs that are willing to help the city in terms of crime monitoring in and around Bacolod, especially during nighttime up to the wee hours of the morning.
The councilor said that because of rampant crime incidents in the city such as hold-ups and ambushes, this will measure to ensure the safety of businessmen and the constituents of Bacolod. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)