No PAGs, no threats vs elected gov’t officials, Iloilo city, province police say

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Elected government officials in the city and province of Iloilo have intimated that they have no imminent threat to their lives.

Both the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPP) reported that they have conducted security dialogues with top local officials in their areas since Saturday evening.

Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said that there is no existing threat against Mayor Jerry Treñas and lone district Rep. Julienne Baronda.

The same can be said for Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr.

Sangrines said all six station commanders in the city were also told to talk to village officials.

“We also got the same report,” she said.

Following the development, Sangrines said the target now is how to sustain the “peaceful situation.”

She added that the ICPO City Intelligence Unit has been conducting continuous monitoring against the possible danger or threat, if any, to elected government officials.

The ICPO also did not monitor any active, potential, or emerging private or partisan armed groups (PAGs) in the city.

Despite that, “we still appeal to the public to remain vigilant and alert,” Sangrines said.

Meanwhile, Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, said that they have started doing security dialogues since Brigadier General Leo Francisco, Western Visayas police chief, issued a directive on Saturday.

“All chiefs of police were told to personally talk to their mayors for any threat, imminent or otherwise, on their lives,” he said.

So far, no mayors, or even congressmen and Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr., claimed that they received any threat on their lives.

Intelligence operatives conducted an assessment of threats from all possible sources, including local insurgents.

“So far, our monitoring was on the negative,” he said.

As earlier reported, Araño said they have not monitored any active or potential PAGs operating in the province.

Their surveillance will also include persons who could be used as gun-for-hire.