Bacolod police seek stronger CCTV laws as firms refuse to aid murder probe

BACOLOD, Philippines – Gaps in Bacolod City’s CCTV ordinances are hindering police investigations, as business owners near crime scenes often refuse to share security footage, citing fears of reprisal.

The issue has come to the fore following the December 3 murder of known Bacolod businessman Michael Garcia, whose assailants remain unidentified due to the lack of CCTV evidence.

Police investigating the December 3 murder of a prominent Bacolod businessman said they were facing challenges as nearby establishment owners refused to provide access to their CCTV footage, citing fears of reprisal.

Police said the killing of Garcia has been classified as a high-profile murder case in Bacolod City.

The victim was shot multiple times by two assailants who entered his computer shop, Michael Computer Solution, on Henarez Street, Barangay 40, at around 3:30 pm on Tuesday, December 3. 

Garcia died on the spot, according to Bacolod Police Station 6 commander Captain John Peter Ramos.

Police said they were looking into Garcia’s failed transactions involving millions of pesos to see if they can establish a motive. Garcia, they said, had been engaged in other businesses.

But the investigation has hit a roadblock as none of the establishments near the crime scene were willing to share footage from their CCTV cameras.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director Colonel Joeresty Coronica said on Thursday, December 5, that such lack of cooperation has stalled efforts to solve what has become one of the most talked-about crimes in Bacolod.

Coronica said they were considering applying for a court order to compel the establishments to surrender their CCTV footage, but he added that the process would be time-consuming.

Bacolod CCTV laws

Bacolod has two existing CCTV ordinances, both passed in 2012.

City Ordinance (CO) 595, known as “Bacolod City’s Eye in the Sky,” requires the city government to install CCTV cameras in strategic locations such as main thoroughfares, public markets, transport terminals, parks, and other crowded areas.

Another, City Ordinance 600, mandates banks, financial institutions, and businesses with a minimum capital of P3 million to install CCTV systems on their premises.

However, Coronica said the ordinances lacked provisions requiring business owners to surrender CCTV footage to police during criminal investigations.

“In Iloilo City, where I came from, their CCTV ordinance is effective in crime prevention because businesses are automatically required to share footage when crimes happen within their premises,” Coronica said.

Since November, Coronica said he has urged Councilor Pao Sy, chairperson of the city council’s committee on public order and safety, to push for amendments to the two ordinances.

Unsolved case

The lack of cooperation in providing CCTV footage has also hindered the investigation into the unsolved murder of lawyer Dan Pondevilla two years ago.

Pondevilla, the general manager of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) and the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), was fatally shot along Lacson Street, Bacolod’s tourism strip, on December 21, 2022.

To date, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has been unable to identify the assailants or determine the motive behind the killing.

“What’s the use of CCTV cameras all over Bacolod City if the police cannot use them to solve crimes?” Coronica asked. – Rappler.com