Mayor cites Wanky for city’s peace and order status

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas commended Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, for his role in maintaining peace and order in the city.

In a statement, Treñas expressed gratitude, noting that the city’s safety significantly impacts both business and the daily lives of residents.

“This atmosphere of safety and security encourages many investors to choose our city, knowing that Iloilo is a stable and secure place to do business,” he said.

Treñas cited the activation of four new police stations under the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) as a major factor in bolstering efforts to combat illegal drugs and deter criminal activity.

The deployment of over 150 additional police officers as part of these new stations has further strengthened the city’s safety measures.

“The support from General Wanky and Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil in equipping and activating these new police stations demonstrates their commitment to our city’s peace and prosperity,” Treñas said.

He also noted that Iloilo City recently received several awards from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), including being named the Overall Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City by DTI Region 6.

The city earned five first-place recognitions in Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, Resiliency, and Innovation.

“I know we could not achieve this if the peace and order in our city were lacking,” Treñas added.

Major Gains in Peace and Order

Treñas previously praised the ICPO for its dedication to maintaining safety and security throughout the city.

“The Iloilo City government’s support has been key to these accomplishments, proving our serious commitment to fighting illegal drugs and enhancing public safety. ICPO’s achievements in crime prevention, ordinance enforcement, and anti-drug operations highlight our combined efforts,” he said.

He added that since 2019, his administration has allocated over PHP 477 million to equip the ICPO with essential resources, including patrol vehicles, firearms, and facilities.

These investments have significantly enhanced the ICPO’s operational capacity. From Jan. 1, 2019, to Oct. 31, 2024, the ICPO conducted 1,334 operations, including 1,219 buy-busts, leading to 1,904 arrests. This total includes 1,803 pushers and 101 users.

The ICPO also confiscated nearly 29 kilos of shabu, 127 grams of marijuana, and 200 ml of rugby during this period.

In October 2024 alone, the ICPO surpassed its September achievements, conducting 56 operations and seizing nearly 5 kilos of illegal drugs valued at PHP 32.7 million.

ICPO chief Col. Kim Legada reported a significant drop in the city’s Peace and Order Index for October, decreasing from 30 to 18.

Additionally, ICPO recorded zero incidents of murder, car theft, and robbery with homicide compared to the same month last year. Other crime statistics also improved, with thefts decreasing from 17 to 9, homicides from 5 to 1, and physical injuries from 5 to 2.

“These outcomes exemplify the diligence, commitment, and professionalism of our police officers who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all Ilonggos,” Treñas said.

Reward Initiative

A few months ago, Treñas announced a reward for the best-performing police station based on accomplishments, especially in anti-drug efforts.

In Col. Legada’s October report, Police Station 1, led by Major Roque Gimeno III, recorded the most drug operations with eight buy-busts, resulting in nine arrests. Of those arrested, five were identified as high-value individuals, and four were street-level individuals. The station seized 668 grams of illegal drugs worth an estimated PHP 4.5 million.