The University of St. La Salle has become converted into a mini-dodge city. Like the Redemptorist Church and the area behind the Riverside Medical Center and it also becomes a snatchers and holdup alley.
And, despite the shooting incidents in front of the USLS last month, which injured our students, the Bacolod police hardly gave it a second thought to assign patrol that could at least respond speedily to any further incident. Including the Riverside and the Colegio San Agustin, these areas are populated by mostly students. Even several are Koreans. And most of these were victims of snatchers and holduppers. Yet, the Bacolod police hardly gave them a second glance. Despite the many reports and the call by local mediamen to reinforce the police visibility in the area. Now, thanks to Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Councilor El Cid Familiaran, the new police chief ordered Station 4 commander Leilani Garcia to establish the Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC) along La Salle Avenue. De la Paz said he will also request Barangay Captain Portia Las Piñas of Villamonte to augment the police in the area with barangay tanods to enhance police visibility in the vicinity of USLS. But I insist that this protective mantle should include the Riverside Medical Center and the San Agustin College. And, of course, the area around the Redemptorist Church where already a lot of snatching and holdups had taken place. The rear of the Riverside had been the scene of several holdups. As a matter of fact, I know of several students who found themselves accosted by knife-wielding toughies who divested them of their personal belongings including cellphones. Worse, the victims never found relief from the police which simply recorded their complaints. I know, one of them was my grandson. He lost a piano keyboard. And the police frenziedly took down his complaints and the description of those who divested him of it. But after a while, they never reported anything afterwards. I hope OIC police Chief de la Paz is extended as police chief. At least, he acts fast to try and solve problems of peace and order and not just face the cameras and assure local residents that "everything is okay and will be attended to." At least, we have action agad. * * * I just read the request for clarification by a nephew of the late Col. Theodore Vinther from Philadelphia regarding the annual honor given his uncle. Vinther, who has his monument at the Bacolod Public Plaza, used to draw hundreds of Bacolod residents whenever the city remembered his heroic death at the Bago Bridge which prevented the Japanese from slaughtering hundreds of Bacolod residents in the Cathedral during the liberation. The annual ritual no longer has been observed. I wonder whether Bacolod has short memories. But I think it is time that we resume the annual tribute to a hero (although an American) for what he did to save the lives of hundreds of Bacolodnons. A belated salute to Col. Vinther. by Rolly L. Espina Negros Daily Bulletin
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