• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Out of a total of 53 flood control projects in Bacolod City, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has already visited 25 as part of its investigation.
City Investigation and Detective Management Unit Acting Chief PMAJ Junji Liba reported finding no ‘ghost projects’ following their initial checks into several flood control projects within the city.
He said that they assigned each station in Bacolod with a flood control project within their jurisdiction.
The police, along with the Philippine Army, were tasked to check on projects in their area.
City Director PCol. Joeresty Coronica, however, clarified that the activity is not a full-blown investigation but limited only in what they call grid coordinates to locate the project.
“The police are not in a position to determine if the projects are substandard or not as we are not skilled in that area. We will just comply with what data they are requiring,” Coronica said.
The police force’s contribution is mainly to take photographs of the projects and check the current status, which will then be submitted to their headquarters.
Coronica clarified that the police did not choose to join the investigation but were tapped by the Department of Public Works and Highways to aid.
“We are territorial and present in every locality so we were easy to tap and we can quickly relay the information,” he added.*
