By Paulo Loreto Lim

Following last weekend’s shooting death of 24-year-old Rey Myr Tan, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III ordered enhanced police visibility at nightlife hotspot, the Smallville Complex, located in the city’s Mandurriao district.

“[Police] must improve their operations in order to succeed in maintaining [the] peace and order of the place,” he explained. “Their presence in responding rapidly in emergencies is needed in preventing crime.”

The area is considered an entertainment hub, with a multitude of restaurants, cafes, and karaoke bars.

The mayor added, he is also considering an executive order to have all city establishments closed by 2:00 a.m.

Over the weekend, Tan was walking around the Smallville Complex with friends around 5:35 a.m. when they were approached by a vehicle carrying three individuals. According to reports, the victim was shot three times in the head.

He would later be declared dead on arrival after being brought to the Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital.

The assailant, identified as Vanlen Jyru Joseph Hulleza, was later apprehended by police, who managed to track down the suspects through closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.

Earlier this week, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) revealed the city’s crime rate continues to decline, a trend ICPO operations chief, Police Superintendent Jowel Saliba, credited to police visibility and curfew implementation.

Based on data gathered between November 24 and 30 this year, the police office recorded a total 45 criminal incidents, a drop from 95 recorded in a similar period last year.

The drop constitutes a 52 percent decline./PLL, WDJ