Mayor: Peace and order situation 'not getting worse'

DUMAGUETE Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria said that peace and order situation in the city has not worsened contrary to public's perception, with only 30 shooting incidents recorded so far this year, compared to 38 in 2014.

He said that based on facts and figures, it would appear that the peace and order situation has even improved, although the year 2015 still has 40 days left.

Sagarbarria attended a briefing of intelligence operatives early this week to get first-hand information on the series of shooting incidents in the city. The 30th incident happened in Barangay Daro last Monday.

Based on records, 99 percent of the shooting incidents are related to illegal drugs, and Sagarbarria said this needs to be addressed as these incidents contribute to the crime statistics of the city.

“We should not sleep on that,” he said.

During the briefing, Sagarbarria also offered his official government vehicle, a white Strada pick-up truck, as additional service for police mobility, because two of the City's four vehicles are unserviceable and the other one is in the motorpool most of the time.

Sagarbarria has also augmented the police's communication equipment, with 12 more radio handsets to be purchased. Police personnel assigned on foot patrol will use these handsets to contact the police headquarters during emergencies.

The mayor said that 15 job order personnel will also be added to the police force to help man the traffic and give information to police. (PNA/Sunnex)