Police now frisking bar, beer joint patrons

The police anti-crime campaign now includes frisking bar customers in several nightspots in the city.

Around 100 policemen composed of members from the Special Weapons and Tactics team, Vice Control Section, Crime Suppression Unit and led by Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch have started conducting "Oplan Bakal" operations.

The operation is part of the flagship Oplan Paglalansag Omega of the PNP anti-criminality campaign intended to locate loose firearms and bladed weapons in the streets.

So far, not one weapon or illegal contraband has been seized during the operation.

"Ang atong lang man gyud ana preventive measures ra," C/ Inspector George Ylanan of the CIIB told The Freeman.

The policemen went to small beer joints and nightclubs along the streets of Junquera, Pelaez, Sanciangko, Colon, Leon Kilat, Manalili, Osmeña Boulevard, General Maxilom Avenue, and other nightspots in the uptown area.

Ylanan said they noticed that most of the bars and small beer joints located along Sanciangko, Manalili and Colon streets have no security guards, making it easy for criminal elements to come and go, unlike the bigger nightclubs in the uptown area hire their own security guards who frisk customers for hidden weapons.

Police said small beer joints have become favorite venues of gangs and fraternities who freely provoke each other thus causing trouble in the area.

A week ago, a 17 year-old high-school student was shot in the head by a man believed to be a customer in the same beer joint the victim and two friends were drinking in. The incident happened at the corner of Osmeña Boulevard and Sanciangko Street.

Police said the teenager might have been victim of thrill killing or he was mistaken for someone else.

The operations will become frequent to make the city safer, police said. - Edwin Ian Melecio