Police keep eye on ‘imported’ thieves

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Everyone is welcome to join the fun and merrymaking celebration for the Dinagyang Festival.

Everyone, except those who plan to do nefarious activities, Police Captain Sheila Mae Sangrines, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) spokesperson, said Tuesday.

Barely two weeks before the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival, Sangrines said they have been keeping tight watch on thieves from other provinces who might move to Iloilo and prey on merrymakers.

“We have already profiled local thieves for easy monitoring. We are now on the lookout for new faces who might commit crimes likes robbery and theft,” she said.

It was gathered that Police Colonel Martin Defensor Jr., Iloilo City police chief, already ordered all ICPO station commanders to coordinate with barangay officials in monitoring transient boarders in their village.

“Usually, these thieves, who are not from here, would rent houses or rooms while in the city. So, any information about suspicious individuals would be of help to us,” Sangrines said.

She added that the information will also help in their anti-illegal drug campaign.

But so far, the ICPO has not monitored the presence of “imported” thieves in the area.

Sangrines said they will sustain their security measures in preparation for the Dinagyang festivities.

“We don’t want to create opportunities for these criminals to do their thing,” she said.

In the past, these petty criminals came from the nearby cities of Bacolod and Cebu.

“If they intend to go to Iloilo, they might first pass through Kalibo,” she said.

Over the weekend, Kalibo, Aklan would also be celebrating the Ati-Ativan Festival

“We would take a cue from there,” she said.

Sangrines said their ultimate goal is “zero major incident” during the Dinagyang celebration just like in previous years.

During the 2019 Dinagyang celebration, police only recorded five cases – two cases of physical injuries, two cases of theft, and one robbery.

But only three – two physical injury and one theft cases – were considered as Dinagyang-related incidents.