Bacolod assures Fil-Chinese community of safety after slay

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – In the wake of the fatal shooting of a Filipino-Chinese businessman, Mayor Greg Gasataya reaffirmed the city’s commitment to peace and public safety.

Gasataya met Thursday with members of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. and the Amity Club to assure them that the city remains steadfast in protecting residents and the business community.

“Let it be unequivocally stated: Bacolod City maintains zero tolerance for violence,” Gasataya said.

“There will be no leniency, no refuge, for those who threaten our city’s peace.”

The meeting followed the killing of 52-year-old civil engineer and hardware store owner Romy Li, who was shot dead in broad daylight Sept. 9 while opening his store in Barangay 12.

Police said the attack may have stemmed from personal grudges or business-related disputes and are pursuing leads that point to possible hired gunmen.

Gasataya extended condolences to Li’s family and directed local police to conduct a full and thorough investigation.

“This senseless act of violence has no place in Bacolod City,” he said.

Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), assured the public that the killing is considered an isolated case and that intensive efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible.

“The BCPO is doing everything,” Coronica said, urging calm within the business sector.

He stressed that there is no immediate cause for alarm, adding that preventive measures are being implemented.

Leaders from the Filipino-Chinese community, including Amity Club Corporate Secretary Crispin Chua and Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Elbert Valencia, praised the city’s swift response and the coordination between police and local officials.

They also urged business owners to help the investigation by sharing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and any other relevant information.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Tay Tung High School mourned the loss of Li, a respected alumnus, board trustee, and parent.

In a statement on its social media page, the school condemned the violence and described Li’s death as a tragic loss for the entire community.

“We strongly condemn this act of violence. He was a proud Taytungian whose life of service, leadership, and generosity had a profound impact on the lives of many,” the school said.

“Acts of violence such as this have no place in a society that values life, peace, and the common good,” it added, calling for a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation to ensure justice is served.

“We stand in solidarity with his family during this time of grief and extend our heartfelt prayers for strength and healing,” the school said.