Police Push for CCTV Ordinance Reform in Bacolod City
Bacolod City police chief, Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, has called on the city council to amend existing ordinances governing closed-circuit television camera use. He emphasized that updating these rules is crucial to strengthen surveillance systems, deter criminal activity, and enhance law enforcement capabilities. The exact four word keyphrase “CCTV ordinance reform Bacolod” plays a central role in this initiative.
Currently, police must obtain a court order to access CCTV footage unless the establishment voluntarily cooperates. Coronica explained that this legal hurdle slows down urgent investigations, especially in hot-pursuit cases where immediate video evidence is vital to catching suspects. “We are pushing to upgrade the ordinance,” he said, noting criminals have grown more cunning and the city must improve its crime-fighting tools accordingly.
Modernizing Surveillance to Match Criminal Tactics
“We need to adapt and make our actions responsive to the times,” Coronica added. He highlighted that CCTV has proven effective in solving crimes and that Bacolod’s construction of a city command center paired with a 200-camera network rollout will significantly aid police and disaster response teams.
Coronica suggested tailoring CCTV requirements based on business size and risk. “Not all establishments need 10 cameras. Small businesses might manage with fewer, while larger ones must be required to install more,” he explained. He also stressed the importance of positioning cameras at eye level, especially at entrances and exits, to capture clear facial images.
Furthermore, Coronica recommended policies asking customers to remove sunglasses or hats upon entry, as clear visibility serves as a deterrent. During a recent City Peace and Order Council meeting, Councilor Pao Sy, head of the Fire, National Disasters, and Calamities Committee, pledged support for amending the ordinance.
Consolidating CCTV Laws for Better Enforcement
Currently, Bacolod enforces three CCTV-related ordinances: one mandating cameras in all public elementary and high schools, another covering comprehensive citywide surveillance, and a third requiring banks and certain businesses to install cameras.
The proposed reform aims to consolidate and update these laws to better suit modern law enforcement needs. Local leaders expressed their commitment to making Bacolod a safer, smarter city, attracting investors through peace, order, and smart technology.
“With cooperation from barangays and businesses and clear ordinance provisions, full implementation is achievable,” Coronica said.
Crime Trends and Barangay Involvement
Recent reports show a two percent drop in overall crime in the past two quarters. From April to May 2025, police arrested 121 individuals, including four listed on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) watchlist.
However, Coronica raised concerns about many arrested drug suspects not appearing on the BADAC list. He stressed the need for barangays to actively identify and monitor drug-related activities at the grassroots level. “We’ll encourage barangays to activate their BADAC teams so they can help police identify drug pushers and users,” he said.
Addressing drug-related offenses is seen as key to further reducing crime in Bacolod City.
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