Bacolod top cop seeks stronger surveillance vs crime

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.

- By 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.