BCPO force short by 56 percent

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) still needs more personnel, especially in this time of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as police officers are also tapped in contact tracing efforts while continuously intensifying their police operations.

Newly designated acting BCPO director Colonel Manuel Placido said their total strength is on 43 percent based on its 1,000 authorized personnel.

Placido said the ideal ratio is supposed to be one policeman per 500 persons, but currently, the ratio is 1 policeman per 1,300 community members.

“Malaking bagay ito kasi more than half talaga ang kulang,” he added.

“Baka may ayaw magpa assign dito probably or baka mahirap magpa assign dito or walang taga rito na gusto magpa assign dito o gusto nila sa ibang lugar. May mga factors diyan.”

For now, the city police force’s capability is overstretched, according to Placido, adding that they cannot ask for augmentation or request additional personnel because some units or police offices also have insufficiency of manpower.

“This is the saddest truth. But, we have to sacrifice. We have to face the reality, kasi wala namang puwedeng asahan, kami na lang,” he said.

But he is optimistic that the BCPO will receive additional personnel in due time if there’s enough recruitment in the police organization.