ILOILO City – There are no organized criminal groups (OCGs) in Western Visayas, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
The Regional Intelligence Division (RID) has yet to detect OCGs after the “dismantling” that transpired years ago, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson.
But the PRO-6 remains on the lookout for the remnants of dismantled criminal groups.
“We will not be complacent,” Malong told Panay News. “Our intelligence personnel and other government forces continue to monitor the activities of those in the list, especially those who have standing arrest warrants.”
Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, regional police director, also reminded all police chiefs to conduct non-stop operations against wanted persons and loose firearms, Malong added.
Malong said they have updated their records after the July 10 robbery in Calinog town where a money remittance center lost P1.5 million.
One of the two robbers barged into Western Union on Osmeña Street, Barangay Poblacion Centro, Calinog around 8 a.m.
The armed man poked a gun at Gladys Almirante, cashier, and demanded money.
The gunman then tied Almirante’s hands, covered her mouth with a packing tape, and brought her to the comfort room where she passed out after being made to smell a handkerchief believed to have been laced with some chemicals.
The victim regained consciousness some two hours after, according to the police .
Almirante was alone during the robbery.
Calinog police chief Police Captain Dadjie Delima said they already have two suspects.
They were not members of OCGs, he added./PN
