ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) mulls tapping barangay officials and tanods (watchmen) to help the police ensure the safety of night shift workers.
Robbers victimized two call center agents in two separate incidents in Jaro and Mandurriao districts last month.
“We have to realign our men’s deployment,” said Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, city police director.
At least five police personnel would be deployed in strategic areas from 12 midnight to 5 a.m.
“In Mandurriao district, Barangay San Rafael has lots of business establishments and call centers. We have to place more police personnel there,” said Biñas.
On June 23, Sofia Camille Gabo, a 24-year-old call center agent, was walking home when two men riding on a motorcycle robbed and stabbed her in Barangay Sambag, Jaro.
Gabo sustained a wound on the face and lost her wallet, automated teller machine card and mobile phone.
The men hurriedly left after the robbery.
A day before the attack on Gabo, a call center agent was robbed on Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (formerly Diversion Road) in Mandurriao.
The victim lost P18,000 to two robbers.
Biñas said the two incidents were not related. There were two separate suspects.
As of this writing, however, no arrests were carried out.
Biñas said police patrol cars would also be roaming the city at night, especially in areas where there are open businesses and offices./PN