Iloilo police investigate robbery group revival

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is not discounting the possibility that an organized group could be behind some robbery incidents in the province.

While the likelihood may not be significant, the revival of previous robbery groups is also being considered.

Colonel Bayani Razalan, Iloilo police chief, said the IPPO has identified only one active robbery group in the province: the Lego-Lebuna Gang.

According to police records, the group has only two remnants, as most members have been either arrested or killed. The two identified members are not currently in Iloilo province.

“But we haven’t delisted them yet,” Razalan noted.

Aside from the Lego-Lebuna Gang, Razalan said they are monitoring the movements of two previously delisted robbery groups that might be revived.

“They might be revived. That’s why we’re eyeing their activities; they might try to make a comeback,” he added.

However, Razalan believes that many robbery incidents in Iloilo are committed by individuals who simply see an opportunity to engage in criminal activities.

The IPPO is also investigating whether the separate robbery incidents in the towns of Oton and Pavia on June 24, which victimized call center agents, were perpetrated by the same individuals.

Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, said that in both cases, the motorcycle-riding suspects grabbed the victims’ belongings.

“We already have persons of interest behind the two incidents. It’s possible that the suspects are acting by themselves,” Araño said.

Araño said that barangay officials and tanod have been tapped to assist police personnel in patrolling their respective areas.