ICPO vows faster action as 5-minute emergency response protocol goes live; Barangay leaders to monitor if promise holds in real-life crises

Iloilo City police director Police Colonel Kim Legada monitors real-time response during a live 911 emergency simulation drill, as part of the city police’s rollout of its new 5-minute response time protocol. ICPO PHOTO
Iloilo City police director Police Colonel Kim Legada monitors real-time response during a live 911 emergency simulation drill, as part of the city police’s rollout of its new 5-minute response time protocol. ICPO PHOTO

ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has officially launched its ambitious five-minute emergency response time protocol, vowing quicker police deployment to incidents following 911 calls — but barangay officials say the real test will come during actual emergencies.

In a simulation conducted on July 9 at Iloilo City Hall, ICPO personnel responded within three minutes to mock emergency scenarios staged in barangays San Vicente (Jaro), Hinactacan (La Paz), Balabago (Jaro), and Hibao-an (Mandurriao).

“This activity affirms our preparedness, our commitment to service excellence, and our promise to respond swiftly and decisively when our constituents need us most,” said ICPO director Police Colonel Kim Legada.

Legada, together with Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, acting director of the Police Regional Office 6, led the drill in front of city officials, law enforcement agencies, and barangay leaders.

“To our fellow Ilonggos and visitors, you don’t have to go to the precinct anymore. We’re just one call away — dial 911, and we’ll be there in five minutes,” Legada assured.

The initiative follows a directive from Philippine National Police chief Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre to standardize faster police response times nationwide, using 911 calls as the trigger for deployment.

But some barangay leaders remain skeptical about how the protocol will perform when the stakes are real.

“You respond quickly during drills, but in real-life situations, the crime might be over before the police even arrive,” said Liga ng mga Barangay president Ma. Irene Ong. “We’ll really see how this works in actual emergencies. Sometimes when the police get there, the fight’s already done. And the calls go through Manila before reaching you, so that adds another layer of delay.”

Ong said the Liga will closely monitor compliance with the five-minute standard across all barangays and continue to coordinate with ICPO to ensure accountability./PN

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