Hundreds of city cops to be deployed for school opening
Heightened police visibility will be the main armor of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), as it maintains peace and order for the opening of school classes.
ICPO intelligence and operations section chief Chief Insp. Dande Deocampo said that they would be deploying 85% of policemen on duty to secure city streets and vicinity of campuses starting June 7, where some schools are expected to open their doors for students.
Deocampo said that all of six stations of ICPO are told to maximize their deployment of personnel.
Members of the Iloilo City Public Safety Company will also boost the six police stations’ capability by doing rounds all over the metropolis.
Aside from uniformed policemen, Deocampo said that they would be sending covert police personnel to watch out for street criminals, who are expected to also expand their illegal activities with the advent of school opening.
He added that they are closely watching street criminals – pickpockets, Salisi Gang, snatchers – who are on their list.
The Barangay Police Auxiliary Teams (BPATs) will be of use to look out for these criminals, who are expected to take advantage of the situation.
“But of course, the job of these criminals becomes easy if we give them the opportunity to victimize us. So, I appeal to the students and their parents to be extra vigilant. They should always be wary when riding a public transport, when walking to populated streets, and when transacting business that involves money,” Deocampo reminded.
But weeks before the opening of classes, the ICPO intelligence and operations chief said that they already started a no let-up campaign in monitoring street criminals.
Aside from intensifying intelligence monitoring, ICPO cops were also told to initiate precautionary measures against these criminals.
“That’s why, we reminded our personnel to file cases against these petty criminals. Of course, with the cooperation of the victims,” Deocampo said.
Part of the monitoring is the surveillance of suspects of Basag-Kotse operations in Iloilo City.
