Negros Oriental police track foreign nationals for security

BACOLOD CITY — Police in Negros Oriental have begun compiling a provincewide count of foreign nationals to guide security planning and deployment.

Police Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, chief of the Provincial Tourist Police Unit and spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said the initiative is in its early stages. No figures are available yet on the number of foreign nationals living in the province.

“We are working with other government agencies now,” Polinar said, noting that the process would involve coordination with local government units (LGUs), other government agencies and barangays.

Police are sending letters requesting data from agencies, including the Philippine Retirement Authority and the Bureau of Immigration.

The Bureau of Immigration is the government’s main repository of records on foreign nationals’ entry, stay and departure from the Philippines.

The Philippine Retirement Authority administers the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa program. The Bureau of Immigration issues the visa under the retirement program.

Polinar said police discussed the proposal only last week, making the initiative a new undertaking.

Tourist police already monitor areas frequently visited by travelers. Polinar said many foreign visitors later settle as residents, making accurate location and population data useful for police planning.

Once the data is gathered, police could map areas where foreign nationals are concentrated and determine how to deploy resources under the peace and order plan, Polinar said.

“We can map it out kung anong puwedeng gawin as to the peace and order deployment plan based on the statistics and location of foreigners,” he said.

The initiative also seeks closer coordination with barangays, which could assist police in maintaining peace and order in their communities.

Polinar has said the database should protect the privacy of foreign residents while supporting security and criminal investigations.

Some foreign nationals have contacted police after two deadly attacks, but Polinar said the information they provided still needs validation.

American marine biologist Kent Carpenter, 73, was killed in his Sibulan home on July 12. Five suspects were charged with robbery with homicide on July 17.

American national Mark Duell, 72, and his 71-year-old Filipina wife were killed in their Dumaguete City home on Sept. 2.

Police said Sept. 9 that they were preparing a robbery-with-homicide complaint against an identified suspect who remained at large.

Polinar said police are examining one question: Were the two attacks linked to an organized group?

For now, investigators do not have enough evidence to establish a common method or a link to a particular group.