Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson admits that the series of shooting incidents in Bacolod City, that claimed lives of several persons just within this month, is alarming.
In a span of three weeks this month, the police already recorded nine shooting incidents in Bacolod City, of which the latest victim was Christopher Guanzon, who was shot dead Sunday night, June 19, by an unidentified gunman in front of his sister at Adelfa Street in Barangay 31.
Guanzon, 34, succumbed to a gunshot wound in the head, according to deputy police spokesperson, P/Lt. Liberty Indiape.
He was the ninth victim in the spate of shooting incidents in Bacolod City this month.
P/Capt. Armilyn Vargas, Police Station 3 commander, said that a sachet of suspected shabu was recovered from the victim.
While it has not affected the province, Lacson said “it’s something that should be discussed and has to be resolved since it is starting to be alarming.”
Lacson, Bacolod City mayor-elect Alfredo Benitez, P/Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, and P/Col. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, met June 20 at the Provincial Capitol and discussed the peace and order concerns in the city and the province.
The governor said that the meeting is an indication that Bacolod City and Negros Occidental will work together in the next three years.
Benitez said the meeting was aimed at addressing the needs of Philippine National Police to ensure that similar incidents will not happen again.
Because of the series of incidents, he admitted that the performance of Martir as BCPO director is now under review./GB
