BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – In line with the 20th National Crime Prevention Week that starts today, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) would be holding foot and mobile patrols, and 24-hour checkpoints across the city.
“We have policemen having field training. We can use them for enhanced police visibility,” said Senior Superintendent Ruperto Floro, city police director.
The crime prevention week’s theme is, Krimen ay Labanan, Karaptan ay Igalang Tungo sa Mapayapang Pamayanan.
“We also have anti-robbery special operations. Cops will be visiting and reminding establishments to be more cautious,” Floro said.
The ICPO will also be tapping the services of force multipliers like barangay tanods and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams.
More checkpoints are needed to keep criminals at bay, according to Councilor Joshua Alim, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on police matters and public safety.
He observed that the ICPO appeared to have become lax recently in its peacekeeping operations.
Alim urged Floro to once again direct his men to set up checkpoints across the city, most especially at night.
And when they do so, said Alim, policemen must not only focus on motorcycle drivers and riders.
Even vans should be checked, he stressed.
At night, the police must also spread its operation to include videoke bars where many fracas happen./PN
