By Jennifer P. Rendon
Pavia town accounted for almost half of those curfew violators arrested in the entire province of Iloilo.
Records from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) showed that Pavia Police Station arrested 134 of the 287 curfew violators in the province from March 21 to April 5, 2020.
At 46.68 percent, Pavia tops the list of the 43 towns and city in the province in terms of curfew violators.
At far second is the neighboring municipality of Sta. Barbara with 25 and Passi City with 19.
Others towns that recorded double digit arrests are Cabatuan with 15, Pototan with 13, and Tigbauan with 12.
A good number of towns posted zero arrests – Alimodian, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Batad, Calinog, Dueñas, Guimbal, Igbaras, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Lemery, Leon, Maasin, New Lucena, Oton, San Dionisio, San Joaquin, Tubungan, and Zarraga.
Police Major Jojo Tabaloc, Pavia police chief, explained that their record for high number of arrests is due to their relentless roving patrol during curfew hours (9 p.m. to 4 a.m).
These persons were collared in populated areas such as Pandac, Aganan, Hibao-an, and near the public market areas.
Less than 10 were criminally charged as the others agreed to do community service such as cleaning the public market and the plaza area.
With Pavia having two COVID-19 positive cases, Tabaloc said they have further strengthened their watch on curfew violators, especially in the village where the two confirmed cases live.
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police chief, said that some towns imposed community service on violators, thus, the zero arrest.
Lucas added that some towns recorded several arrests at the onset of the curfew order.
“But lately, we have recorded few curfew violations,” he said.
However, Lucas said there would be no let-up on their call for people not to violate the rule and just stay home for the safety of everyone.
