Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution during their Feb. 24 session urging the Bacolod City Peace and Order Council to convene and discuss the spate of unsolved shooting incidents recently.
Crimes appear to be on the uptrend beginning the first month of the year, noted Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr.
Gamboa sponsored the resolution asking the Office of the City Mayor to lead the council in formulating measures to prevent and resolve alleged unlawful killings in Bacolod.
The resolution pointed out that in January 2021 alone, seven shooting incidents took place and six killings were recorded during the current month, Gamboa said.
Gamboa said Bacolod City, through the local chief executive, may use its intelligence funds to support law enforcement agencies and anti-crime group to gather information that may lead to the solution of these cases.
He also cited that the peace and order ordinances such as the Riding-in-Tandem, Closed Circuit Television Ordinance, among others, should be strictly implemented.
Some of the incidents that happened lately involved some “high profile” individuals.
These unresolved killings and crimes triggered fears in the community and may affect the way of life of residents in a highly-urbanized city like Bacolod.
Another resolution requesting the Bacolod City Police Office, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as well as other law enforcement units to conduct an investigation for the speedy resolution of the spate of killings and crimes was also passed by the Sanggunian.
Gamboa cited Section 11, Article II of the 1987 Constitution which provides that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.
These ruthless and senseless killings have set a disturbing trend without fear of arrest or apprehension that jeopardize the Bacolodnon’s safety and created fear, anxiety and apprehension among the people, he added. – MML
