‘VILELA EFFECT’: 65 wanted persons collared in three days

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

OUT to prove his detractors wrong?

In his first three days as director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), Police Colonel Roland Vilela managed to goad his officers to arrest more than 60 wanted persons in the province.

From Sept. 3 to 6, 2019, the IPPO arrested 60 wanted persons and 5 most wanted persons.

The arrest is slightly lower than the initial quota of two arrests per police station.

The IPPO has jurisdiction over 42 municipal and one component police stations.

Also, eight operations against violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) were conducted in three days.

The operations were carried out by police stations in Oton, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Lemery, and Sara.

Two operations for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act) were conducted in Alimodian and Cabatuan.

The police also carried out operations against illegal fishing (5), illegal quarry (7), and illegal logging (2).

Vilela, who was installed as Iloilo PNP director on Tuesday, posed a 24-hour challenge to all field commanders to step up the campaign against wanted persons and other crimes.

The 24-hour synchronized anti-criminality law enforcement operations began 6 a.m. of Sept 5.

Vilela first received the result earlier than expected when Alimodian Municipal Police Station arrested Nelson Legaspi at 5:10 a.m. who was wanted for the crime of rape by carnal knowledge.

A case for violation of RA 10591 was also filed against Legaspi after he yielded a 12-gauge shotgun.

At the end of the 24-hour challenge, Vilela said they accounted 41 wanted persons, and 27 others who were arrested for violations of RA 10591 (1), RA 9165 (4), illegal fishing (4), illegal quarry (4) and 14 gun holders with expired licenses who surrendered or deposited their firearms with police stations.

“I want our field units to raise the bar of their performance, and this 24-hour challenge is my way to test the waters,” he said.

While expecting each unit to deliver arrests of at least two wanted persons in 24 hours, Vilela commended his personnel despite many units falling short of the target.

“Their accomplishments will be my basis to assess their performance, and to know how we can support them to deliver more,” he said.

The 24-hour anti-criminality operations is sought to set the tune of police operations in the province.

Vilela said that the Ilonggos should expect more because the Iloilo police force will also do more.

“Our mandate is to make this place a safer place for everyone. Hence, we will be relentless in running after the enemies of peace, order and safety,” Vilela said.