Police presence

WE’VE them all over the place in Bacólod. Young armed male and female police officers – if often bored – are guarding the streets.

Except for fatigue uniforms and sidearm, they might look college students or young employees. Unlike most people their age, they’re not boisterous, subdued even.

Judging from the facial expressions of civilians, they’re largely ignored.

Which is just as well. Us civilians don’t find them threatening.

I certainly don’t. Instead, I feel safe. Protected.

Last month during the MassKara festivities, Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, director of Police Regional Office-Western Visayas, during his visit in Bacolod City said the Philippine National Police in Western Visayas, are concentrating on the reduction of theft, robbery, physical injuries, carjacking, homicide, murder, and rape.

Binag said that with the deployment of more personnel in streets, there can be deterrence in crimes.

Yet their presence seemed not to have deterred thieves.

This week, Senior Inspector Ramel Sarona, head of Police Station 7 in Bacolod City, said that the same suspects were behind last week’s establishment robberies in the cities of Bacolod and Bago.

Sarona said they coordinated with Bago City Police Station and found out that the same group of robbers hit M & J Fabrication and Installation Inc. Sarona said the group operated in his area of jurisdiction thrice already, including two incidents last month and another this month.

Manhunt operation is ongoing against these robbers, who carted away P111,169 in cash and a speaker worth P2,500 inside the Island Merchant Corporation office.

I pray that the Bacolod City Police Office bag these criminals. Soon. Let them feel the long arm of the law.

I might disagree with the recent visitor in the country US President Donald Trump. But I agree with him on this one hundred percent: “We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.”