THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has assured the local businessmen that authorities are doing their best to address crimes and maintain peace and order in the city.
BCPO Director Police Colonel Henry Biñas, on the sidelines of the send-off ceremony for the 15th Bacolaodiat Festival at their headquarters Thursday, January 30, said the police efforts especially on solving crimes are evident.
He made such statement in reaction to the pronouncement of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) that the recent killing incidents have alarmed the local business sector.
Biñas said the Police Regional Office–Western Visayas has been supporting the BCPO’s campaign against criminality through one, sending augmentation personnel to intensify police visibility in the streets.
“There are crimes that cannot be prevented,” he said, adding that “what we can assure is that we are doing our best to solve crimes.”
MBCCI chief executive director Frank Carbon earlier said crimes especially killings are eyesores to the city.
Carbon stressed that the recent killings in the city whether, or not, involving businessmen are already alarming.
“For the business sector, this is worrisome,” he said, adding that “killing in general is an eyesore as it negatively impacts the business climate of the city.”
Since late part of 2019, there have been several killing incidents in the city.
These include that of businessman who was abducted by three armed men and was later found dead at a grassy area in Barangay Mandalagan.
The victim was identified as Ontao Sacar, 66, a native of Marawi City and currently residing at the said barangay.
His head was wrapped with packing tape while his mouth was covered with duct tape.
Just last week, on January 22, another man was abducted and brutally killed at Barangay Mansilingan in the city.
The victim was identified as 33-year old Richard Tutop, a former detainee of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for violation of illegal drugs.
Similar to Sacar, the victim’s both hands were hogtied using packing tape and sustained gunshot wounds.
Biñas said “the police are on top of it all.”
Generally, the crime rate in the city is in decreasing trend, he said, stressing the importance of crime prevention “which is not only the work of the police.”
The BCPO director called on the public, including the businessmen, to always deny the opportunity for crime to occur.
For example, one should avoid walking or being in dark places. People should always be vigilant for possible threat in their lives, Biñas said.
“For business establishments, they should employ security guards and install closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs), among other measures,” he said, adding that their employees should also be concerned and conscious of the security of their respective workplaces.