By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez announced he will provide a cash reward to any credible informants who could help the police address the unsolved killings in the city.
Benitez’s spokesperson, lawyer Caesar Distrito, said this was based on the proposal of Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, the newly designated officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Distrito stated the mayor would announce the amount after conferring with Coronica.
Coronica assumed the BCPO post while a series of shooting incidents occurred in recent weeks. “We will look into that and find interventions so that we would be able to address it,” he said.
The victims included a 12-year-old boy, a businessman, a construction worker, a suspected thief, and another man.
Coronica said he tasked the City Investigation and Detection Management Unit (CIDMU) to meet with station commanders and investigators in areas with unsolved cases, particularly shooting incidents. He added they will all meet on Monday, July 29.
“We need to focus on a lot of things, and there is a lot to be done,” he said.
In a recent media briefing at the BCPO headquarters, Coronica mentioned that the cash reward will help convince witnesses to come forward and cooperate with the police to solve crimes. “This will stir their social responsibility,” he added.
Coronica noted that most of the time, witnesses to crimes fear for their safety or retaliation, leading them to withhold information that could help the police.
Coronica requested time to observe and assess the situation to develop necessary measures to counter crimes.
Coronica’s last assignment in Bacolod was in 2007 when he led a police station. He said he will also implement the template used during his stint in the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) before his reassignment here. He stressed that his priority would be relentless operations against illegal drugs.
He pointed out that many crimes result from illegal drug use. “If we address illegal drugs, we can already address a lot of crimes,” he added.
Coronica aims to strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs since the city is considered a “transshipment point” due to its multiple entry and exit points.
“We are trying our best to prevent crimes, but we cannot be perfect,” he said. However, he noted that this doesn’t mean the police are neglecting their mandate, as they have proactive measures in place.
“While we cannot be in every place to prevent a crime, we are enhancing our police visibility to deter crimes,” he said.
Coronica said reshuffling would be implemented after he assesses the performances of station commanders. “I need to see their performances, especially their service reputation because I want to put the right person in the right position,” he emphasized, stressing the importance of discipline and competence.
