Iloilo City peace and order situation under control, police official assures

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, Senior Superintendent Kashmir Disomangcop declared that there is no private armed group operating in this highly urbanized city.

“We are in control of the situation. Peace and order is very stable as evidenced by developments going on in Iloilo,” Disomangcop said.

Disomangcop said that they even enhanced their security efforts by increasing police visibility in economic key points and commercial centers.

The Iloilo top cop admitted that the ongoing development in the city has also its contrasting effect because it likewise opens opportunities for criminal elements.

Nonetheless, he expressed appreciation to the city government for support the police organization by donating patrol cars and motorcycles that enhance the mobility of their personnel.

The Police Regional Office 6 also deployed additional personnel to the ICPO, he disclosed.

Meanwhile, while the presence of private armed group is negative, he admitted there are loose firearms in the city which is now the focus of their campaign.

“We have intensified checkpoints because these are very effective in intercepting loose firearms,” he said.

Very recently, they have intercepted a machine pistol, three revolvers and two hand grenades in a checkpoint conducted in Mandurriao district.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog earlier requested the national and regional offices of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the spate of shooting incidents in the city, which were initially blamed on the proliferation of loose firearms and the supposed presence of armed groups in the city.

The request was an offshoot of the November 19, 2015 incident in Mandurriao district where a group of armed men entered the compound where the office and studio of Aksyon Radyo is located. (PNA)