ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has directed the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) to enhance the safety and protection of Indian nationals residing in the province. His directive comes in light of recent reports detailing a series of robberies targeting Indian businessmen, commonly referred to as “Bombay” money lenders and collectors.
“Two weeks ago, I spoke with IPPO director, Police Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, stressing the importance of assisting our Indian nationals. I made a promise to the Ambassador of India to the Philippines that we would ensure their safety,” shared Defensor.
Earlier, in May, Defensor and His Excellency Shambhu Kumaran, the Ambassador of India to the Philippines, met during Kumaran’s visit to Iloilo. The ambassador was in the city to participate in a roadshow highlighting India’s diverse business opportunities spanning sectors like Information Technology, Business Process Management, pharmaceuticals, personal care, engineering, renewable waste management, and more.
Addressing the recent incidents, Palomo said there have been no new robberies involving the Indian community lately.
On Sept. 21, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) convened a hearing to discuss measures against robberies targeting Indian nationals. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Indian business community in Iloilo.
The SP highlighted several robbery cases, specifically in Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, and Mina towns. The committee also noted that many incidents went unreported, largely due to a lack of business permits and fears of retaliation.
To mitigate these concerns, the SP and the IPPO proposed the following actions:
* encouraging Indian nationals to secure business permits from local government units
* logging their entry at municipal police stations for record-keeping
* advising the use of GPS trackers and hidden cameras on their vehicles to ensure rapid emergency response
“There’s a clear pattern. Indian nationals seem to be frequent targets, primarily because many incidents go unreported,” remarked Provincial Board member June Mondejar, chairperson of the SP committee on public order and security.
Providing more context, Police Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Celoso revealed that out of 52 robbery incidents recorded from Jan. 1 to Sept. 20 this year, only six involved Indian nationals. While 37 cases have been resolved, 10 were cleared, and five remain open. The cooperation of victims, however, continues to be a challenge.
More Support to IPPO
The recent SP committee hearing unveiled some logistical challenges faced by the IPPO, including inadequate fuel or vehicle maintenance.
To this, Defensor responded, “Whatever assistance we can provide, we will continue to do so, be it in the form of vehicles, weapons, or other resources.”
In previous years, the provincial government has supplied patrol cars to teams like the Special Weapons and Tactics. They’ve also funded weapons, infrastructure, and recently, a road project worth P11-million leading to the proposed IPPO headquarters in Barangay Sablogon, Passi City.
“Supporting our IPPO is of utmost importance,” emphasized Defensor./PN
