ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Government and the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) garnered national acclaim from the Philippine National Police (PNP), emerging as top awardees in line with the latter’s 124th Police Service Anniversary (PSA).
The city will be conferred a Special Award as the top-performing highly urbanized city (HUC), besting other finalists such as Zamboanga City and Pasig City. This honor underscores the robust and sustained collaboration between the city government and the ICPO under the leadership of Police Colonel Kim Legada.
The ICPO was hailed as Best Performing City Police Office in the Philippines, triumphing over counterparts in Butuan and Davao. The recognition affirms the ICPO’s outstanding efforts in maintaining law and order, combatting criminality, and implementing anti-illegal drug operations.
Several ICPO officers were also nominated at the national level. They are Col. Legada as nominee for Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations; Police Captain Ryan Christ C. Inot, former head of the City Drug Enforcement Unit and current officer-in-charge (OIC) of Molo Police Station, as nominee for Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations; and Police Master Sergeant Argie O. Catayban as nominee for Best Junior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for Operations.
A Collective Victory for Iloilo
Mayor Raisa S. Treñas, who served as guest of honor and speaker during the Police Regional Office 6’s (PRO-6) flag-raising and awarding ceremony, dedicated the recognition to all Ilonggos.
“Ginapa-ambit ko ini nga kadalag-an sa tagsa ka Ilonggo nga kabahin sang aton handum para sa mas malinong, mas masaligan, kag mas masanyog nga Iloilo City. Ginahimo naton ang tanan bangud indi naton luyag nga kilalahon pa liwat nga pugaran sang droga ang aton pinalangga nga syudad,” she declared.
She reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to the PNP and called for continued collaboration.
“Let us continue building a strong partnership. Kay kun isa ang aton nga direksyon, we can build a safe, orderly, and progressive Iloilo City,” she said.
Mayor Treñas and Col. Legada are set to receive the awards on August 12 during the 124th PSA Anniversary celebration at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Strategic Investment in Peace and Order
Since 2019, starting with the term of former Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the city has invested nearly P600 million in resources, infrastructure, and strategic peace and order initiatives to support the ICPO. These include patrol cars, firearms, motorcycles, bicycles, and budget allocations for travel, meals, training, office supplies, fuel, and anti-drug operations.
From 2024 to 2025 alone, the city government provided P1.55 million worth of logistical resources to include information technology equipment, furniture, air-conditioning units, and decibel meters (2024); as well as 80 assault rifles, 250 radio battery packs, three patrol Hilux units, and one SWAT van (2025).
The city government also spearheaded the establishment of eight Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICARE) Centers, strategically located across districts and housing key frontline services including the police. With ICPO, the city also activated four new police stations (Police Stations 7, 8, 9, and 10) and funded the construction of the SWAT Headquarters and Firing Range.
Morale-boosting and inter-agency efforts were likewise prioritized, including the “Lechon for the Good Performer of the Month” incentive program, joint health and education initiatives, and team-building activities to strengthen unity among public safety personnel.
Tribute to a Visionary
Former Mayor Jerry P. Treñas was also honored with a Stakeholder Award by PRO-6 in recognition of his administration’s pioneering peace and order programs.
“These programs were locally funded through the taxes paid by our people. What we started continues to bear fruit today, and I fully support the current administration’s commitment to build on these gains. We did all these because we never want Iloilo City to be a haven for illegal drugs ever again — NEVER AGAIN,” the elder Treñas said.
A Drug-Free and Secure Iloilo
The ICPO, in its statement, expressed its gratitude for the continued support from both past and present city leadership.
“This honor reflects our strong partnership with the city government under then Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, his successor Mayor Raisa S. Treñas, and the unwavering dedication of every ICPO personnel,” said Col. Legada.
He added: “We proudly share this victory with our community — and we remain committed to building a safer, drug-free, and disciplined Iloilo City. Dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, ang Gusto ng Pulis: Ligtas Ka.”
Results That Matter
From January 1, 2019 to October 31, 2024, ICPO carried out 1,334 anti-illegal drug operations, including 1,219 buy-busts, resulting in the arrest of 1,904 individuals — comprising 1,803 drug pushers and 101 users. These operations led to the confiscation of nearly 29 kilos of shabu, 127 grams of marijuana, and 200 milliliters of rugby.
For 2024 alone (January to July 31), the ICPO launched 419 anti-drug operations, seizing 1,562.5 grams of shabu worth P106.3 million and 144 grams of marijuana worth P17.3 million. A total of 557 drug personalities were apprehended, including 162 high-value targets and 373 street-level individuals./PN
