Gumban says Iloilo ranks only 4th in robberies
Senior Supt. Renato Gumban, director of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office, has brushed aside reports that the series of robbery incidents in the province is a “demolition job” against him.
His failure to solve the robbery cases could compel the Philippine National Police leadership and Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. to dismiss him as IPPO chief, reports said.
“I think the rumors are mere coincidence. Even earlier, we are not discounting the possibility of the rise in robbery incidents because of the advent of lean months,” he said.
Gumban said he doesn’t want to believe that “someone out there is hyping the issue to pin me down.”
He said the robbery cases in Iloilo are “not as bad as it looks.”
In Western Visayas, Iloilo province ranks only fourth in terms of robbery incidents.
Topping the list is Negros Occidental, then Bacolod City, and Iloilo City.
“Maybe, there was a hype because a good number of media (outlets) are reporting the incidents,” he said.
Also, Gumban said that Iloilo province ranks only seventh among the provinces and chartered cities in Region 6 as far as average monthly crime rate is concerned.
“That’s why, if there is a problem, it’s not as big as it appears,” he added.
Gumban said that his area of jurisdiction also has the highest crime solution efficiency when it comes to robbery incidents.
Yesterday, provincial and city directors in Western Visayas and members of the Police Regional Office 6 command staff held a conference to tackle anti-criminality strategies.
Among the matters discussed was the strengthening of intelligence efforts to combat robbery incidents in the region.
Gumban said he pointed out his concern on IPPO’s lack of permanent intelligence officer.
For a provincial police office, the intelligence officer must hold the rank of superintendent. Recently, Supt. Ipil Dueñas took over the post after meeting the requirement.
Gumban also raised the need for an association matrix of robbery groups.
The Regional Intelligence Division has a matrix of robbery groups but it has not completely associated the members of one robbery group with another.
There was also a discussion on the order of Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, police regional director, for the strict implementation of the “three-strike policy” in the campaign against unabated robbery incidents.
A three-strike policy means that a police commander will be administratively relieved from his post and investigated for lapses, inaction or negligence if three successive robbery incidents occur in his area of jurisdiction.
