By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
THE Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) assured the City Council that the metropolis remains peaceful amid the series of killings perpetrated by motorcycle-riding assassins.
“Generally peaceful” was explicit answer of top police officials during a dialogue with councilors on Sept 18, 2018 at the City Council’s session hall.
The dialogue was prompted by a resolution approved during the council’s regular session on Sept 11 inviting ICPO officials to a conference to update the City Council on the peace and order situation in Iloilo City, particularly the occurrence of index and non-index crimes.
The resolution was in reaction to the series of killings involving motorcycle-riding gunmen and police anti-drug operations that occurred in the city in the past two weeks.
On Sept 7, two Tokhang surrenderees were shot dead by “riding-in-tandem” suspects in Molo and La Paz.
Four days later, another drug surrenderee and a tricycle driver were also gunned down in Jaro.
Moreover, two suspected drug peddlers died in separate police anti-drug operations in Molo and Jaro recently.
According to the former chief of Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), they are still investigating the recent killings.
“The city is peaceful to law abiding citizens but the city is dangerous for those who will violate the law.
With regards to the killings, we are investigating the case but in the conduct of investigation there are some cases that we cannot solve immediately,” said Sr. Supt. Henry Biñas, former ICPO director who now heads the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6’s Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division.
Biñas said the citizens have nothing to worry because the police anti-drug operations were legitimate and free of irregularities.
“The citizens have nothing to worry, mga isolated na nga mga kaso and if you check the background of the victims may mga previous na record sila. On the killings in drug operations, we don’t have contrary evidence that the operation is irregular or not proper and we also haven’t received any complaints from the victims on this matter. Our operatives are performing their duty regularly or with propriety but if there are evidences or complaints that could disprove the regularity we are very willing to entertain,” Biñas noted.
Biñas also reported to the City Council a 24.66% decrease in crime volume in the city, particularly in the period January 1- September 13, 2018.
“The Total Crime Volume recorded in the city for this year is 5,600 incidents compared to 7,433 incidents last year. Out of total crime volume, 82.36% are cleared which means that cases were already filed in court and the suspects were already identified although some are still not jailed,” Biñas added.
The report also indicated a 52.76% decrease in index crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, robbery, theft, and carnapping.
Police also noted a 24.71% decrease in the average monthly crime rate of the city.
“The average monthly crime rate is the number of crime per month in a 100,000 population, it means in the city in an area of 100,000 population there more or less 131 crime cases that occurred in the area for this year compared to last year which is 174,” Biñas explained.
Despite the assurance that the city is generally peaceful, Councilor Armand Parcon said that he is still doubtful of the safety of the public.
“Generally peaceful pero may series of concern and may level of doubt kay kung basehan naton ang mga ulihi na mga insidente kung tan-awon ang mga criminals are acting with impunity, scot-free, wala sang apprehension, cases are unsolved and that is something na serious concern,” Parcon lamented.
He added that this situation challenges the police to become vigilant and ensure effective crime solutions.
“Gina-claim sang aton kapulisan nga generally peaceful but it poses a challenge nga dapat kung may krimen ang ila crime solution efficiency mas maabtik, mas dasig,” said Parcon.
Meanwhile, Sr. Supt. Martin Defensor, the new ICPO chief, assured that he would always uphold the rule of law and protect the life of citizens in Iloilo City.
“Clear ang standing order ko sa mga commanders naton that we will do always do our job with regularity and in accordance with the law,” said Defensor.
ICPO also presented to the council their interventions such as Enhanced Managing Police Operations, Project Tokhang, Project Bong, and the establishment of Police Assistant Desk in strategic places to ensure the presence/visibility of the police in the city in 24 hours.
