BY MAI LADIAO
ILOILO – Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has not monitored any criminal gang groups in the province of Iloilo.
Police Major Rolando Araño, spokesperson for IPPO, stated in an interview that there have been no recorded or monitored criminal or gang groups in the province of Iloilo since Provincial Director Colonel Ronaldo Palomo assumed office.
Araño disclosed that the recently listed gang groups, Libuna and Bagatnan, previously involved in gun-for-hire activities and robbery, have disbanded since.
Palomo marks his one-year tenure this March.
Under his leadership, the IPPO has seized P123,028,503.12 worth of illegal drugs from 328 operations. This is 502.85 percent higher compared to the previous year’s figures.
Furthermore, 416 drug suspects were apprehended in the province, an increase from the 196 apprehensions previously.
The IPPO also confiscated 18,092.43 grams of illegal drugs, compared to 3,001.16 grams in 2022-2023.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,423 wanted persons were apprehended.
In the campaign against loose firearms, the IPPO conducted 162 police-initiated operations, resulting in 143 arrests.
About 210 operations were carried out against illegal fishing, an increase from the previous year’s 138 operations.
In terms of illegal quarrying, 320 enforcement actions were taken, with 355 truck drivers being apprehended./PN
