ILOILO City – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is ramping up intelligence efforts to prevent the resurgence of a notorious robbery group in Iloilo Province, following the recent apprehension of a key group member.
IPPO officer-in-charge, Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, has issued directives to all police chiefs to enhance intelligence operations and maintain close ties with barangay officials to avert the regrouping of robbers.
This strategic move came after the arrest of an individual known as “Joms” during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Carvasana, Calinog, Iloilo, where police seized P1.7 million worth of shabu.
“Joms” is believed to be a part of the now-dismantled Chiva-Fajardo robbery group, which was primarily based in Calinog.
“Our intelligence personnel are diligently monitoring the movements of the remaining members. We are aware there are remnants of the group and we are focusing on preventing their regrouping,” said Razalan.
He further instructed his officers to bolster the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN), particularly in the central Iloilo towns of Calinog and Lambunao, and to expedite the processing of pending arrest warrants.
The Chiva-Fajardo group, which saw its leaders Arnel Chiva and Jenel Chiva incarcerated, was linked to numerous robberies in the area.
The group suffered significant setbacks when two of its key members, brothers Gilbert and Joey, were fatally wounded in a joint operation by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army in July 2010.
Both from Sitio Bolicao, Barangay Alibunan, Calinog, the brothers were implicated in various robbery incidents, with Gilbert sustaining fatal injuries to the chest and temple, and Joey to the shoulder and jaw during the encounter./PN
