By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has upped the reward to P5,000 for information leading to the identification of vandals in the city.
Police Colonel Noel Aliño, BCPO director, announced the increased bounty as part of a ramped-up effort against vandalism.
Recently, Police Station 10 officers apprehended three minors, ages 12, 14, and 17, for defacing the wall of a razed building with pentel pens in Barangay Felisa on April 14.
“These boys thought it was merely a prank,” stated Police Captain Lelanie Lagoting, clarifying their misguided antics as a sign of a delinquent attitude.
The youths, also known for curfew violations and theft, have been handed over to barangay officials for evaluation. Parents and guardians were summoned to underscore the seriousness of the vandalism offenses.
In line with Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez’s directives, Aliño has commanded stringent enforcement of the Anti-Vandalism Ordinance.
The BCPO has also formed an Anti-Vandalism Task Force and engaged the LGBTQ+ community group ‘B-PLUS’ for wall clean-ups and repainting initiatives.
Penalties under the ordinance escalate from a P1,000 fine for the first offense to P5,000 and possible jail time for the third offense, based on the infraction’s severity.
For minors under 15, parents will bear civil liability, while those aged 15 to 18 will face property restoration and community service.
