Mayor urges public: Do not be alarmed

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia has assured the public that the police are on top of the situation to maintain peace and order here.

Leonardia made the statement following series of shooting incidents in the city in the past month that alarmed the business sector.

“Do not be alarmed,” Leonardia told the Bacolodnons, as he noted that the city is still generally peaceful, citing the reduction on criminal incidents last year at 40.11 percent.

Leonardia said the previous shooting incidents cannot be considered alarming, but he noted that they are also concerned about it.

He said that perpetrators of shooting incidents usually have motives and specific reasons. “This is not happening out of lawlessness, but out of grudges and anti-drug campaign of vigilantes, and this is happening nationwide,” he added.

Leonardia added that the people should face the reality that despite the efforts of the police, it’s always a “cat and mouse” game between the law enforcers and the criminals.

The mayor said he already talked to Police Colonel Manuel Placido, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) about the said incidents and the latter told him that they are doing their best to solve the cases.

“Sometimes, the criminals can just escape, indi man madakpan tanan-tanan, but one thing is for sure, gatinguha ang police,” he added.

Earlier, Placido said that the BCPO also does not consider such incidents as alarming, adding that they are continuously investigating the cases.