ICPO launches crime reporting hotline

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Just how impactful can a “whisper” be in strengthening community-based crime prevention?

Banking on the concept of anonymous tips, confidential informant intelligence, or “whisper networks” in crime prevention, the Iloilo City Police Office on Wednesday, May 20, launched the program “IHUTIK KAY TSIP.”

The ICPO formally unveiled the initiative during a coordination meeting with security agencies at the ICPO headquarters at Camp Achilles D. Plagata in Iloilo City.

Col. Wilbert Parilla, Iloilo City police chief, described the project as an information-gathering initiative aimed at strengthening community participation in crime prevention.

He added that it is the ICPO’s response to the evolving challenges brought about by technological advancements and the increasing innovations employed by criminal elements.

Parilla said the project was conceptualized by the ICPO City Intelligence Unit, headed by Lt. Col. Randy Caballes, CIU chief, and his deputy, Capt. Val Cambel.

A total of 39 security agencies citywide attended the meeting.

Parilla said the initiative encourages the public to actively participate in maintaining peace and order by providing timely and relevant information that may help prevent or pre-empt criminal activities in the city.

As part of the project, mobile number 0963-058-1571 was designated as the official platform for receiving information from the community.

Reports received will undergo proper intelligence processing, including deliberation and validation, to determine their intelligence value and usefulness in police operations.

The ICPO assured the public that all information received, as well as the identities of informants, will be treated with utmost confidentiality by authorized personnel in accordance with security protocols.

But Parilla clarified that the hotline is intended solely for intelligence and information-gathering purposes and not for emergency response operations.

To further strengthen the project, the ICPO identified security guards and security officers as the primary partners and first line of information sources under the initiative, recognizing their vital role in monitoring establishments, financial institutions, schools, business centers, and other strategic areas in the city.

Their active participation is expected to significantly enhance the police office’s intelligence network and crime prevention efforts.

Stickers and calling cards containing the hotline number will be distributed to security agencies, security personnel, and members of the community to encourage wider participation and support for the program.

The ICPO is calling on the public to report any information related to illegal drugs, wanted persons, robbery suspects, loose firearms, illegal gambling, and other criminal activities, emphasizing that community involvement plays a vital role in keeping Iloilo City safe and secure.

Parilla said the project was launched in time for the opening of classes for School Year 2026–2027, the onset of the rainy season when theft incidents commonly increase, and reports of “termite gang” activities targeting financial institutions in nearby provinces in Western Visayas.

Again, Parilla emphasized the importance of public cooperation in ensuring community safety.

“Crime prevention is a shared responsibility. Through ‘IHUTIK KAY TSIP,’ we encourage everyone to become vigilant and proactive partners of the police,” he said.

Parilla said security guards and security officers serve as force multipliers in safeguarding establishments and communities.