By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office 6 has not monitored any active criminal gangs involved in gun-for-hire activities or private armed groups in Western Visayas.
Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, PRO-6 director, made the statement following a series of shooting incidents in the region, particularly in Iloilo province.
“We haven’t monitored criminal gangs,” Wanky said.
“We recorded some in the past, but they were all disbanded following the neutralization or arrest of their leaders and members.”
He also said there have been no reports confirming the presence of private armed groups in the region.
However, he acknowledged receiving information that some political candidates may be contacting questionable individuals to act as bodyguards.
“These claims are still subject to validation,” he added.
Wanky also addressed public perception that shooting incidents have increased.
“If we go by the statistics, we actually see an improvement in the number of shooting incidents during the election period,” he said.
“Perhaps the concern was heightened because most of the incidents happened in Iloilo province.”
From Nov. 3, 2024, to Jan. 11, 2025 (pre-election period), PRO-6 recorded 92 shooting incidents.
Negros Occidental topped the list with 28 incidents, followed by Iloilo province with 27.
Capiz had 20 incidents, Bacolod City had 13, Iloilo City had five, Antique had four, Aklan had three, and Guimaras had two.
From Jan. 12 to March 22 (election period), the number of incidents dropped to 64.
Negros Occidental still had the most with 25, while Iloilo province logged 17.
Bacolod City was down to six incidents, and Antique increased by one.
Both Iloilo City and Capiz recorded four incidents each, Aklan remained at three, and Guimaras reported none.
Wanky assured the public that police officers remain vigilant in preventing such incidents.
He said PRO-6 is intensifying operations against loose firearms and has increased checkpoint activities.
He also urged individuals with unlicensed firearms to surrender them to the authorities.
