Police to keep tighter watch in prov'l schools
Mongcal
Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) will closely watch major public schools and colleges throughout the province as school officially starts in all levels today.
Senior Superintendent Melvin Mongcal, IPPO director, said a more extensive campaign will be conducted in schools with a serious warning out on the students: to stay away from illegal drug use and drug trade.
Mongcal also warned incoming students on the expected recruitment of school-based gangs or fraternities.
Yet no direct threats are imminent to incoming students, Sr. Supt. Mongcal clarified saying that the IPPO's moves are all geared towards ensuring a safer school environment in government schools and colleges.
As such, an order is out in all police offices of Iloilo's 42 towns and one component city to intensify police visibility alongside the standing directive to keep a tighter watch on all school campuses here.
The IPPO's drive against illegal drug trade and proliferation has since been the same priority of Capitol's anti-illegal drug czar, Board Member Angelo Briones. Activated for years now since Briones' leadership in Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay are anti-drug councils all over 1,721 Iloilo barangays. Briones as current chair of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan's Committee on Public Order and Safety has also conducted school-based advocacies including the "Say No to Drugs" drive.
Gang recruitment on the other hand will also see a more aggressive move from the IPPO.
"From the recruitment they will move to initiation then trouble begins," Sr. Supt. Mongcal quipped while calling for the students and the parents to be forewarned on this.