Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said a Closed-Circuit Television camera is being installed at the Bacolod City Government Center, following the P3.6 million hold-up incident at the Central Negros Electric Cooperative.

“I hope the Sangguniang Panlungsod will also step up passage of a proposed ordinance requesting businessmen in Bacolod City to install CCTV cameras in their establishments, or make the corresponding amendments in the light of the incident at CENECO,” he said.

Establishments like banks or stores and institutions like CENECO and the Bacolod City Water District, that have big collections should be urged to install CCTV cameras, he added.

Councilor Caesar Distrito said he will also introduce a resolution during the SP session tomorrow requesting all business establishments in Bacolod to install CCTV cameras for security purposes.

Leonardia said “I think we shoulddo everything we can to prevent these incidents because it is still true, after all is said and done, that‘an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”

He urged Bacoleños to stay vigilant. “We can never tell when this will happen. Even police chief Ricardo de la Paz has emphasized that it is always a more effective crime deterrent if the public is aware and conscious,” he said.

Leonardia said that, after the hold-up incident, he has been meeting frequently and consistently with CENECO president Arnel Lapore and de la Paz. “Our police is trying their best to solve that the soonest possible time,” he said.

He said he considers this an isolated case, but added at the same time, “This will tell us and remind us that something like this could happen if we let our guards down.”

Leonardia said he hopes the release of the photos of the suspects, captured by the CCTV camera at their rented place, will be a deterrent. “But, we should not be complacent because the suspects might be challenged,” he added.

The mayor congratulated the police for the very significant leads they now have and for identifying the suspects that is already a very big factor in the resolution of the case. “And, if it is a consolation, we saw that the suspects are not from Bacolod,” he also said.

Maybe they saw that there is a gold mine in Bacolod, he said. In that sense, maybe they believe that Bacolod really is, having a very vibrant economy and they have a lot to get here, he added.*CGS

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