Bacolod police chief seeks stronger surveillance vs crime
Published Jun 15, 2025 01:26 pm
Bacolod City police chief Police Col. Joeresty Coronica has urged the city council to amend ordinances on closed-circuit television camera use, emphasizing the need for stronger surveillance systems to deter crime and support law enforcement efforts.
CORONICA (Glazyl Masculino)
Police at present are required to secure a court order before accessing CCTV footage pursuant to an ordinance, unless the establishment willingly cooperates.
Coronica noted that this limitation hampers urgent investigations, especially during hot-pursuit operations where immediate access to video evidence is critical to identifying and apprehending suspects.
“We are pushing to upgrade the ordinance,” he said, stressing that criminals have become more innovative, and the city must keep up by modernizing its crime-fighting strategies.
“We need to adapt and make our actions responsive to the times. CCTV has proven to be a powerful tool in solving crimes,” Coronica said.
The ongoing construction of a city command center and full rollout of the 200-camera CCTV network are expected to greatly support law enforcement and disaster response, according to Coronica.
Coronica proposed a more nuanced approach to CCTV requirements by categorizing businesses based on size and risk level.
“Not all establishments need 10 cameras. Small businesses might manage with fewer, while larger ones must be required to install more,” he said.
He underscored the importance of proper CCTV placement – especially on eye level and in entry or exit points – to ensure facial recognition.
Coronica recommended requiring customers to remove sunglasses or hats upon entering establishments as clear visibility acts as a deterrent.
He said that Councilor Pao Sy, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Fire, National Disasters, and Calamities, during their City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) meeting last week, committed to working on the ordinance amendment.
The proposed changes will support the plan of a city-wide installation of 200 CCTV cameras under the initiative of Mayor Albee Benitez to improve surveillance in strategic locations.
Three ordinances related to CCTVs are being implemented here – Ordinance No. 667, installation of CCTV cameras in all city public elementary and high schools; Ordinance No. 595, Bacolod City Eye in the Sky Comprehensive CCTV ordinance, and Ordinance No. 600, requiring all banks and other financial institutions as well as certain business establishments to install CCTVs within their premises.
The revised measure seeks to consolidate and update these ordinances to better meet current law enforcement needs.
The joint council reaffirmed its commitment to a safer, smarter, and more resilient Bacolod City, envisioning it as a “super city” that attracts investors through peace, order, and well-planned technological investments.
“With the cooperation of barangays and the business sector, and with clear provisions in the ordinance, we can ensure full implementation,” Coronica said.
During the meeting, the Bacolod City Police Office reported a two percent decrease in total crime in the past two quarters.
From April to May 2025, 121 individuals were arrested, including four from the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) watchlist.
Coronica raised concerns regarding the arrest of many drug personalities who were not on BADAC list, highlighting the need for more active barangay-level identification and monitoring. “We’ll encourage barangays to activate their BADAC teams so they can help police identify drug pushers and users,” Coronica said.
He added that almost all crimes are drug-related and addressing these at the grassroots level is key.