BACOLOD City Administrator John Orola urged netizens to be responsible when posting on social media to avoid creating fear that can destroy the image of the city.
Orola Monday issued the reminder after some individuals posted on Facebook last week that “Bacolod is not safe for investors after an Israeli national was shot by one of the three unidentified men who robbed the two costumers of his restobar at C.L. Montelibano Avenue.”
“Be responsible with what you post on social media and speak the truth. You can cause fear and destroy the image of Bacolod,” he said.
Orola said what happened was an isolated incident and should not discourage businessmen from investing in Bacolod.
On November 15, Shmuel Haimovitch, 60, was inside his establishment with his wife, when three men on a motorcycle arrived and declared a hold-up.
Haimovitch tried to stop the assailants who robbed his wife’s two friends Carmen Cuadra, 63, and Marilou Mills, 60, but one of them shot him.
Haimovitch sustained a minor injury, police records showed.
Orola held a meeting on Monday with Superintendent Roderick Minong, officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), to discuss how to address crime incidents.
“The Israeli was not the target of the suspects so let us not discourage foreigners from visiting Bacolod,” he said.
Orola directed Minong to intensify visibility patrol operations, and to campaign against illegal tricycle operators, and motorcycle drivers who are not using helmets.
“Those who are posting that Bacolod is not safe have agenda and plans. Bacolod is safe and sound and will continue to be visited by the visitors,” Orola said.
Councilor Ricardo Tan, chairperson of committee on peace and order, had earlier urged the BCPO to intensify its visibility patrol during night time.
Tan said the visibility patrol is a big help to arrest robbery suspects operating at night.
“We have to be vigilant to arrest the ‘riding-in-tandem’ suspects, and it is the job of our policemen to neutralize them,’ he said.
