‘INTENSIFY CHECKPOINTS’

Familiaran says all incidents related to criminality are alarming

BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran urged the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to conduct checkpoint operation in various areas of Bacolod to intercept the riding-in-tandem criminals who are operating in the city.

This, after a 25-year old woman was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of BJMP after she visited her live-in partner at 3:10 p.m Sunday.

Familiaran said BCPO should double its effort to conduct checkpoint operations especially, during night time to prevent the possible operation of the lawless elements.

“All incidents related to criminality are alarming,” he said.

He added the police are eyeing illegal drugs as possible motive in the killing of the victim so the police should double its efforts to solve the crime.

On Sunday, Crystal Faith Jastiva, who lives on Bonifacio Street, Purok Balunggay, Barangay Poblacion, Bago City, was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of BJMP near at the BCPO headquarters.

The perpetrators, who wore helmets and black t-shirts, fled toward Araneta Street. The victim sustained a lone gunshot wound in her head.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, earlier said that they are eyeing Jastiva’s possible involvement in illegal drug trade, since she was visiting her live-in partner Kirby Andrada inside the BJMP, who was also arrested for possession of illegal drugs.

Currently, Jastiva’s mother was also detained at Bago City Jail for the illegal possession of drugs.

Jastiva was also using a fictitious name: “Ashly Kate Gonzaga.”

Familiaran said he believes the suspects only took an opportunity to kill the victim in the areas since they were using a motorcycle, the easiest and fastest gateway vehicle after committing the crime.

Through the checkpoint operation, he said the police can intercept immediately the ridingin-tandem suspects.

Meanwhile,

Familiaran said the suggestion to suspend the national Helmet Law still need a study and an approval from the Congress.

This, after Pico earlier said that they will also propose to the City Council to temporarily suspend the Helmet Law in the city, adding that they faced difficulties in identifying the identities of the suspects in several crime incidents because most of them were using helmets.

“We’re implementing a national law and it needs an action from the Congress if there’s someone want to repeal it, it’s a law so we need to implement it,” Familiaran said.*