Negros police urge people to remain vigilant this Christmas
BACOLOD CITY – The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) urged people to remain vigilant and adopt basic safety practices for a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration.
Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, emphasized the importance of public cooperation during the holidays.
“As we celebrate the Yuletide season, we call on everyone to stay alert, responsible, and cooperative,” Ibay said.
Public safety is a shared responsibility, he stressed.
Ibay encouraged the public to immediately report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or local hotlines.
The PRO-NIR heightened police visibility through intensified patrols and strategic checkpoints in close coordination with local government units (LGUs) of Negros Occidental, including this highly-urbanized city, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, barangay officials, and force multipliers across the region, following the start of “Simbang Gabi” or dawn Masses, a period traditionally marked by increased travel, gatherings, and commercial activity.
Police reminded the public to comply with local ordinances on firecrackers and pyrotechnics, observe fire safety precautions at home, and closely supervise children to prevent accidents and injuries during the holiday season.
The public was advised to secure their homes and valuables, remain alert in crowded areas such as malls, markets, churches, and transport terminals, and strictly observe traffic laws, particularly the prohibition against drunk driving.