ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) will tap the services of police auxiliary to augment forces securing Smallville – a popular rest and recreation complex in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao district.
This after city mayor Jerry Treñas decided to revoke Executive Order (EO) 146 which imposes a 2 a.m. alcohol curfew in business establishments selling liquor.
ICPO director Colonel Martin Defensor said around 100 police auxiliary will be deployed to assist police officers in maintaining the peace and order in the area.
Treñas is set to repeal the EO 146 in order boost to the tourism sector as he intends to step up the promotion of Iloilo City as a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) destination.
“If mayor Treñas will repeal the EO 146, we will deploy a squad of police officers, then the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and personnel of the Mandurriao police station,” he added.
Prior to the issuance of EO 146 in December 2017, city policemen had been unable to prevent trouble most especially at Smallville Complex.
“We can handle police security to business establishments because we have to use the services of SWAT, one squad in ICPO and police auxiliary who will assist the police. We have enough men to use and no need augmentation from the regional command,” said Defensor.
Defensor also said that he would reactivate police assistance desks in strategic areas such as the entrance and exit points of Smallville for better police visibility plus the additional personnel and police auxiliary.
Establishments covered by EO 146 – bars, nightclubs and restaurants – must set a time for receiving last orders from customers so as to meet the 2 a.m. curfew that stretches until 8 a.m.
“I would to remind restaurant owners to put security guards and high quality closed-circuit television to help if there’s a crime,” said Defensor./PN
