Bacolod mayor sees politics in rise of holdup cases

With Election Day looming closer, holdups and robberies have become more rampant in Bacolod City, with the city government suspecting politics behind it. Sun-Star Bacolod reported Saturday that while Mayor Evelio Leonardia insisted the situation is under control, he suspects the holdups were staged to embarrass him. The Sun-Star report said at least nine holdup cases had occurred in the city since Holy Week, the latest victim being the SeaOil gas station in Mansilingan village. Unidentified robbers took at least P27,000 from the gas station. Leonardia suspected that hold-up and robbery cases in the city might be "politically motivated," to "demean or discredit my administration." He instructed city police chief Senior Superintendent Ronilo Quebrar to strengthen their efforts to avert further holdup and robbery cases. For his part, Quebrar denied report that the robbery cases are part of a police "drama" to pressure the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to approve a controversial P13-million internal security operation (ISO) in Bacolod. Quebrar, meanwhile, appealed to both Mayor Leonardia and Rep. Monico Puentevella to spare his policemen from any suspicion on the alleged political partisan. "I assure both Mayor Leonardia and Cong. Puentevella that we policemen will remain neutral and fair to each and every candidate here in Bacolod," he said. - GMANews.TV