PNP Regional director Doroteo Reyes yesterday said he has ordered Bacolod City police director Pedro Merced to stop the series of crimes in the city and bring the culprits to the bar of justice as soon as possible.

At the 15th PNP Day celebration at the BCPO grounds yesterday Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia also encouraged Merced to address aggressively the series of crimes in the city like the "Budol-budol" or swindling, daylight robbery with hold-up and theft incidents.

Reyes said he believes that police visibility and resourcefulness are necessary to prevent lawlessness. He also said he is waiting for Merced's recommendation for additional personnel to augment the BCPO in order to attain effective law enforcement in the city.

He said he has tapped the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and territorial force commander to help them to monitor the presence of "drug dens" and "shabu wet markets" in Western Visayas just like in Pasig City in Metro Manila where several drug paraphernalia and packs of shabu were confiscated, and about 300 persons were arrested.

Reyes said the PNP is doing its job and continues its effort to prevent illegal drug activities, that have been monitored to be a continuing problem in the streets.

He warned PNP personnel to keep themselves away from the illegal activity and not to get involved in it because if they do, they will be hit just like other drug targets and will suffer the consequences of their actions.

Meanwhile, Puentevella who formally turned over the PCSO ambulance to Leonardia at the BCPO headquarters yesterday said, he has requested the National Bureau of Investigation-Manila to augment the BCPO in combating criminality in the city so it can come up with a solution on the present problem within a month.

Merced should prove that the BCPO deserves to be awarded as "best of the best" police office in the region and to be included as one of the three contenders in the "best of the best" in the national level, Puentevella said.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said he encourages Leonardia and Merced to visit the private and public schools in the city and intensify their campaign against drug addiction, involving the youth.

"I don't want Bacolod City to be another Pasig City and we will never tolerate that," Puentevella stressed.

NBI Bacolod officer-in-charge Philip Pecache yesterday said he will coordinate with the BCPO in creating fight plans against hold-uppers, robbers and other law-breakers.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said the Bacolod police should be aware that they have a title to protect and such crimes should not be allowed to happen because it could damage the image of the BCPO.

He also appealed to the public to be more vigilant and to cooperate with the Bacolod police in solving crimes.*DMG

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