Bacolod mayor offers reward to fast-track resolution of unsolved murders
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Albee Benitez has offered a cash reward to any information that would aid police in addressing unsolved killings in this city.

BCPO chief Police Col. Joeresty Coronica pays a courtesy call on Mayor Albee Benitez at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC). (Photo courtesy of Mayor Albee Benitez Facebook)
Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod City Police Office chief, proposed the reward to Benitez amid the series of shooting incidents when he assumed here.
Benitez said that he will reveal the amount of the reward soon after conferring with Coronica.
Four persons – a 12-year-old boy, a businessman, a construction worker, and a suspected thief – died in five shooting incidents a few weeks before Coronica took over on July 23.
In a recent press briefing, Coronica said that he has tasked the City Investigation and Detection Management Unit to meet station commanders and investigators in areas with unsolved cases, particularly shooting incidents.
“We will look into that and find interventions so that we would be able to address that,” he added.
Coronica acknowledged that there is a lot to be done but he is optimistic that the reward would help police hasten the resolution of unsolved cases.
He said that witnesses often fear for their safety and have a tendency to ignore information that may help the police.
With the proposed reward, Coronica said that it will help convince witnesses to surface and cooperate with the police. “This will stir their social responsibility,” he added.
He is asking for ample time to observe and assess the situation here to enable them to come up with the necessary measures.
“We are trying our best to prevent crimes, but we cannot perfect it,” he said.
Coronica said they are not neglecting their mandate as they have proactive measures. “While we cannot be in every place to prevent a crime, we are enhancing our police visibility to deter crimes,” he said.