BCPO lacks mobility, manpower assets

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is facing challenges in mobility and manpower assets.

This was revealed Thursday by Police Major Sherlock Gabana, BCPO’s information officer, as he appealed for the public’s cooperation in keeping the peace and order in the city.

Gabana made the appeal after some residents expressed concern over shooting incidents in the city.

In fact, the recent shooting incident happened in front of the barangay hall of Estefania village here around 10:30 p.m. that killed Danilo Sangcap Jr. of Barangay 7 Poblacion, Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

According to Police Major Jun Ray Batadlan, head of Police Station 4, Sangcap had just alighted from his motorcycle when four unidentified armed men on board a car shot him at close range before fleeing.

Batadlan said the victim succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body.

Police recovered from the scene 16 empty shells of .9mm caliber and .45 caliber ammunitions.

Batadlan said it’s possible that the perpetrators waited for the victim in the area.

It was past curfew hours when the shooting happened. Witnesses who were still outside their houses failed to identify the gunmen, he added.

Batadlan said they are eyeing illegal drugs as a motive for the incident, adding that Sangcap was on the drugs watchlist of Victorias City Police Station.

Batadlan said the victim was reported to have a transaction in the area when the shooting happened.

“Wala ta kabalo if ano nga transaction, pero wala man siya pamilya, relatives or kilala sa lugar, though ga rent siya sa Eroreco,” he added.

It was the third shooting incident that occurred this month here.

Gabana said the mobile patrol and beat patrol in each police station continues especially during nighttime to ensure that nobody violates the curfew hours.

However, he said they are having difficulties somehow because each police station only has two mobile patrols and limited number of personnel.

“Galibot man ang mga kapulisan, wala man ga untat, pero sa kalapad sang area sang isa ka barangay, kulang ang vehicles and even ang gas allocation, pero gina ideyahan gid sang kapulisan to perform their duties,” Gabana said.

Gabana stressed that despite the police’s responsibility, it is also important that the public may know their role in the anti-criminality campaign of the police.

“Bisan ano kadamo police, ang mga criminal makapangita gid way to commit their plans. Ang role tani sang tawo is to report whatever suspicious activities are happening in their areas, as well as if may ma witness sila na incidents so that the police can immediately act or respond,” he said.

Gabana said it is challenging for the city police force to secure the whole city because of insufficiency of personnel.

The ideal ratio should be 1:500, but presently, it is 1:850, he added.

He appealed to the public to strictly follow the curfew hours to avoid crimes especially during night time.

“We need your active cooperation and support,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Gabana said they have solved many cases, although it took them some time because of the process of the investigation.

Gabana maintained that Bacolod is still generally peaceful, and murder cases were isolated cases with personal motives.

“It is not alarming,” he said.