ILOILO – “There’s always room for improvement,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. even as he expressed satisfaction on the performance of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) and its director, Police Colonel Ronaldo Palomo.
Palomo was recently hailed as “best performing police provincial director” by the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) some two months after his reassignment to the IPPO in March.
“We are happy with the figures, the accomplishments sang aton IPPO in the campaign against illegal drugs, illegal fishing, but again there’s always room improvement para sa aton tanan,” said Defensor.
He wanted the IPPO to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs “together with other stakeholders.”
On June 6, the police confiscated 380 grams of shabu worth P2,584,000 in Dumangas town, and just this June 9 P560,000 worth of shabu was seized in Calinog.
Palomo reported on the IPPO’s recent accomplishments including on the campaign against loose firearms, illegal gambling and wanted persons during the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting on June 15.
One of the significant accomplishments was the arrest in Makati City on June 1 of the No. 1 most wanted person in the region – murder suspect Elfran Bagatnan, 31, of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
Bagatnan was believed to be the leader of a gun-for-hire group.
Between June 5 and 11, the IPPO reported having collared 76 fugitives from justice. The Ajuy municipal police had the highest number of arrested wanted persons (seven), followed by Janiuay and Banate police stations (five and four, respectively).
Further, 13 operations against illegal drugs resulted in the arrest of 13 drugs personalities and the confiscation of 547.91 grams of shabu worth P3,725,788.
The successful joint buy-bust operation of the IPPO Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Dumangas police in Barangay Sapao, Dumangas on June 6 resulted in the neutralization of a high-value suspect and the recovery of 380 grams of shabu worth P2,584,000.
In the campaign against illegal gambling, the Carles police arrested two persons.
On the other hand, the Anilao police bested other units in the campaign against loose firearms; it Implemented two search warrants and seized two loose firearms.
The IPPO also reported that 62 loose firearms and three explosives were surrendered through the sustained implementation of Tokhang Kontra Armas Luthang./PN
