• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Police visibility in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and other provinces in Western Visayas will be maximized this Yuletide season, the Police Regional Office 6 assured the public Dec. 2.
“This Yuletide season, it is expected that there will be an influx of people and tourists in the different areas in the region,” PRO6 director, P/Brigadier General Jack Wanky, said and directed unit commanders across the region to ensure the maximum deployment of police personnel in strategic places and areas of convergence.
This is to ensure the prevention of crimes and to secure mall goers, travelers, commuters, and tourists, Wanky said. “Review your respective areas of responsibility as to crime prone areas, crime clock, where traffic congestion mostly happens, among others, and take proactive actions.”
“We need to ensure the safety and security of our ‘kababayans’. In all our deployments and crime prevention endeavors, engage the local government units, barangay officials, force multipliers, and other government and non-government organizations,” he said in a statement.
He said that police personnel should be well-briefed before the actual deployment and to ensure that all crime prevention and solution efforts are monitored and closely supervised.
Meanwhile, P/BGen. Marlou Roy Alzate, chief of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies, in Memorandum Advisory 067-2024, urged private security personnel (PSP) to assist in maintaining peace and order within their AORs this holiday season.
“All PSP, as recognized force multipliers of the PNP, are reminded of their responsibilities to assist in maintaining peace and order; observe utmost courtesy and uphold the highest state of discipline; and maintain active coordination with the PNP office/unit in their respective areas,” the memorandum addressed to private security service providers and PSP, dated Nov. 28 but made public Dec. 2, stressed.
The season may present opportunities for lawless elements/threat groups to conduct illicit activities, posing potential risks to public safety and security, hence the memo, Alzate said. | CGC
