Iloilo Cops Surmise: Luzon rob suspects may be in WV

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — Senior Supt. Marietto Valerio, City Police director, confirmed the other day his command has been monitoring criminal elements in the city, who may be suspects in robbery incidents in Luzon and could be hiding in Western Visayas.

Valerio said he received information that these suspects, who hailed from Western Visayas, could be hiding in the region after being involved in mall and bank heists in Metro Manila.

“That’s what we are verifying. Baka nagpapalamig sila dito, although for now we could not yet ascertain if nagpapalamig lang sila or may binabalak din sila habang nandito sa area,” Valerio said, adding that most of them were new faces.

Several anti-criminal groups, citing the rising election fever, earlier raised concern over the series of robberies in Metro Manila, with some politicians possibly behind these incidents to raise their election fund.

In Iloilo City, however, Valerio said it is quite hard to believe that politicians will maneuver robberies to hoist their poll money.

He said that, whether these Manila-based criminals’ presence could be established or not, he already ordered his subordinate commanders to step up their anti-criminality efforts.

Last month, the City Police met with some bankers to discuss the lapses in their security measures and what could be done about these. The Iloilo City Police Office also activated the Joint-Anti Bank Robbery Action Committee (JABRAC), which is headed by Valerio himself.

The activation of JABRAC, which is composed of bank representatives and the chief security officers, has been intended to strengthen the efforts of the police and the bank management to pre-empt bank robberies.

“These series of meeting will prompt them to correct their lapses and reenforced their security efforts,” Valerio said.

On top of this, city policemen have started conducting 24-hour checkpoint and chokepoint operations, he said while pointing out a decline in crime against property this year compared to the same period in 2011. He also cited the ICPO’s improved crime solution efficiency.