ILOILO City – There are currently no organized crime groups operating or being monitored in Western Visayas, according to Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Continuous law enforcement efforts and anti-criminality campaigns in the region have led to a notable decrease in crime incidents, he added.
“The peace and order situation in the region remains generally peaceful, with no major crime incidents such as bank robbery, kidnapping, hijacking, or other high-profile cases recorded,” said Wanky.
Citing examples from popular regional festivals like Ati-atihan in Aklan and Dinagyang in Iloilo City, Wanky said these events passed without any major incidents, further underscoring the absence of significant criminal activities.
The absence of major crime incidents suggests that various criminal gangs previously active in the region have either become inactive, have been apprehended, or have gone into hiding to evade arrest warrants, he said.
“We have seen a decline in criminal activities related to robbery, gun-for-hire operations, and other organized crimes,” Wanky pointed out.
Despite the significant reduction in organized crime threats, Wanky emphasized that the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 6 would not become complacent.
“We will continue our preventive measures, especially as we approach the ‘ber months’, by enhancing intelligence monitoring, increasing police visibility, and conducting regular patrols, particularly in strategic and populous areas,” he said.
Additionally, PRO-6 is bolstering its resources, including enhancing manpower and establishing additional police stations in highly urbanized areas like Iloilo City and Bacolod City.
Four new police stations were established in Iloilo City last month to keep pace with its rapid development and to ensure public safety.
Wanky also noted the overall downward trend in crimes within Western Visayas.
For the first half of 2024, the region recorded 5,529 incidents, a decrease of 731 incidents from the same period last year which saw 6,260 incidents.
The index crimes have decreased by 339 incidents or 23.64 percent to 1,095 this year, compared to 1,434 in the same period last year.
Non-index crimes also saw a reduction to 4,434 incidents, down by 392 cases or 8.12 percent from last year’s 4,826 incidents.
The eight focus crimes, including murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, and vehicle theft, also showed a decline, with 1,089 incidents recorded this year, down by 339 incidents from 1,428 in the previous year./PN
