THE Filipino-Chinese community in Bacolod has expressed confidence that the city remains viable for business and investment given its current peace and order situation.
Oddette Ong-Gomez, chairperson of the 15th Bacolaodiat Festival, said the community with members mostly doing businesses in the city still trust the local government and the police.
Ong-Gomez, on the sidelines of the just-concluded festival, said the city remains viable for businessmen and investors despite the recent killing incidents here.
"Aside from Megaworld, several other big corporations are coming in. In fact, SM and Robinsons continue to expand their operations here," she said, adding that "this is an indication that Bacolod still has good business climate."
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) earlier assured 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 told SunStar Bacolod that the police’s efforts especially on solving crimes are evident.
This is 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.
The latest was that of an alleged member of Divinagracia drug group who was shot to death by unidentified assailants at Purok Rose in Barangay Cabug.
The police identified the fatality as Virgelio Lopez, 35, of Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City.
He was found with gunshot wounds on his head. His hands were tied with a placard on his side that reads "Gud bye shabu welcome heaven or hell. HVT ako."
The victim was a former detainee for violation of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.
In December last year, a 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.
Ong-Gomez, however, said the recent killings do not lessen the confidence of Filipino-Chinese community especially their businessmen-members.
She said these are "focused and isolated" crimes and that there's nothing to worry about as long as one is not involved to it.
"Authorities just have to sustain the peace and order through one, intensifying police visibility," Ong-Gomez said.
Bacolod is still less traffic compared to other cities in the country and infrastructures here continue to improve, she added.