THE Pagadian City Police Station posted a record of zero-crime during the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto bout last Sunday, after people of all walks of life opted to stay in their homes and watch the fight on television.
The new WBO welterweight champion knocked down Cotto twice and turned the Puerto Rican’s face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him at 55 seconds by TKO in the 12th round at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The crime rate tilting to an amazing zip virtually helped Pagadian police in terms of peace and order, C/Insp. Michael Palermo said.
However, he added that policemen were still on patrol that day despite the zero crime rate and the big boxing match going on.
Last Monday, this paper saw that there was no entry of any crime incident or any report of untoward incident last Nov. 15, unlike the day before when one was killed and two other bystanders were wounded in a shooting incident that occurred in Sta. Lucia.
Police identified the victims as Faisal Talinguez Abubakar, Nathaniel Manisa Alayon and Jeffrey Saladaga Lopecio, all residents of the said barangay.
It was learned that the victims were watching a basketball game along Duterte Street in Purok Makiangayon when the shooting happened.
Abubakar, who was believed to be the main target of the two unidentified shooters, sustained multiple wounds in his body and was pronounced dead on arrival at Borbon Hospital.
Palermo claimed Abubakar was known as a drug runner in the area who was said to have earned a grudge from one of his customers.
Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia punong barangay Nasser Cauba said he will “shoot to kill” any suspects caught in the act of shooting people in his village.
An irate Cauba said he was only suggesting as he urged resident to be on alert always on suspicious people who might try to spoil their upcoming Barangay charter day celebration this Dec. 13.
In a related report, the PNP national headquarters also said the same zero-crime scenario was replicated in most places all over the country that Sunday.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA & JONG CADION