• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has urged the Bacolod police June 3 to intensify visibility and crime prevention measures following the recent holdup of a doctor in Barangay 19.
“Public safety is a primary responsibility of the local government, and the peace and security of every Bacolodnon, including professionals rendering essential services, must be upheld at all times,” the SP said in approving the resolution authored by Councilor Em Ang.
Ang, chairperson of the SP Committee on Health and Sanitation, said that doctors and other frontline medical personnel provide critical services to the community. “Any threat to their safety directly affects public health and access to medical care.”
She stressed the need for increased police visibility, strategic checkpoints, and intelligence-driven operations, adding these have “proven effective in deterring criminal activity and giving the public a sense of security.”
The SP urged the Bacolod City Police Office to intensify visibility and patrol operations, especially during peak hours; and coordinate with barangay officials, community leaders, and medical groups to strengthen crime prevention and reporting mechanisms.
There is also a need to install additional CCTV cameras and improve lighting in identified crime-prone areas, the SP said, adding the city government of Bacolod remains committed to a safe and secure environment for all.
The female doctor was robbed night of May 28 while entering an apartment compound in Barangay 19, the police had said, adding that despite being threatened with a firearm, she resisted her attackers.
The police later nabbed two suspects in separate operations hours after authorities announced a P200,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. | CGC
