BACOLOD City – In a bid to end the city’s illegal drug woes, Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, deputy city director for operations of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), has asked the city government here to upgrade the capabilities of local police through enhancement of facilities and procurement of equipment.
According to Espenido, since his arrival
in Bacolod City, he noticed the BCPO has “several equipment woes,” noting a
lack of police vehicles and fuel.
He also pointed out food supply shortages for police officers conducting
operations, along with a lacking incentive system for the ongoing campaign
against illegal drugs.
Espenido recalled his stint in Ozamis City, he asked the city government for
motorcycles and the city immediately complied the following day and delivered
10 motorcycles.
The city government even contracted a gasoline station to provide fuel for police vehicles, he said.
For his part, Executive Assistant Sammy Montoyo, City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) focal person, said that the city has been very supportive to the police.
Montoyo cited BCPO’s annual allocation which is included in the annual budget of the city.
He said that this year, the city has allocated a P8-million fund for the utilization of the BCPO.
Aside from that, Montoyo said Mayor Evelio Leonardia also increased the fund of CADAC from P1.5 million from last year to P10 million for this year.
Montoyo said that the council will inform Espenido about the help and support being extended by the city to the police.
He added that the council had already recommended to the city council to give incentives and commendations to police stations and personnel with commended accomplishments./PN
