The Bacolod City Police Office is eyeing to end the year 2020 with lesser crimes as its troops go on full alert for the New Year celebrations, Police Col. Manuel Placido, city police director, said.
As of Monday, Dec. 28, the BCPO recorded 24 incidents composed of crimes against persons and crimes against properties since the start of the month.
Placido said this is lower compared to the 35 crime incidents that happened in December last year, he said.
“We are targeting not to breach the 30 crime incidents mark this month,” he added.
Placido attributed the decrease to the limited movement of people due to the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions.
He added that the whole force of BCPO have been placed on full alert since last week, which means all their leave credits are canceled and they are obliged to render duty during the holidays.
Between 300 and 400 police officers, except for non-uniformed personnel, will be deployed to watch various places of convergence and vital installations.
Placido said those assigned in the field are not the total manpower of BCPO because some of its personnel are still being utilized as contact tracers.
The police chief, however, assured the public that they are not lowering their guards for any eventualities.
Meanwhile, Placido said they have not yet received an instruction regarding the muzzle-taping of firearms.
Still, he urged his men to be responsible in carrying firearms, and also appealed to gun owners in Bacolod to avoid using their guns in the celebration of New Year to prevent injuries or casualties.
“If there was no indiscriminate firing last year, I hope it could also be done this year,” Placido said.
There are designated firecracker zones in each barangay in Bacolod where people can light authorized firecracker and pyrotechnic materials, he said.
He added that they will monitor any use and sale of prohibited firecracker, especially those utilizing them in undesignated areas. – SGG
