Iloilo City public order office burglarized

By Jennifer P. Rendon, Rjay Z. Castor, and Juliane Judilla

Talking of irony…

The Public Order and Safety Management Office (POSMO), a division under the Iloilo City government, was burglarized by unidentified suspects on Sept. 23.

The incident was discovered around 7:45 a.m. when Jay Victor Mabilog, POSMO officer-in-charge, arrived at the office on the third floor of the old Bureau of Fire Protection building on Muelle Loney Street, City Proper.

Upon entering, Mabilog,  found the office in disarray, with two laptops missing: one personal, valued at PHP38,000, and another belonging to the office, valued at PHP27,000.

Mabilog, 56, of San Jose St., Barangay Tap-oc, Molo, Iloilo City, was recently designated as POSMO officer-in-charge following the resignation of Jeck Conlu.

He is the younger brother of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Captain Roque Gimeno III, chief of Iloilo City Police Station 1, confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to determine the identity of the suspect and how they gained entry to the office.

Initial reports indicate that while closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed in the area, they were not operational at the time of the incident.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has directed the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to prioritize the investigation.

Joy Fantilaga, Treñas’ spokesperson, said the city mayor received a detailed report on the incident from ICPO director Col. Kim Legada, who assured them that a thorough investigation is underway.

“The ICPO is on top of the situation. Police Col. Kim Legada has provided me with a detailed report on the incident, and I have directed him to give this matter special attention, particularly given that a government office is involved,” Treñas said in a statement.

Police reported finding scattered office items, a cellphone, a laptop outside the office, and food sachets on the stairs leading to the offices within the building.

No security personnel were present during the break-in.

Authorities have identified persons of interest and continue to investigate the motive behind the crime.