With the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) currently conducting Oplan SumVac, which maintains police deployments at popular sites, hotels, and churches, the local law enforcement agency assured safety for those visiting the city during summer.

“We have Police Assistance Desks situated [at] destinations like the Esplanade, Jaro Cathedral, malls, and along the streets,” explained deputy ICPO operations chief Mercilyn Duero. “Iloilo City is peaceful and safe, especially the sites tourists would like to visit.”

The law enforcement official, however, still advised the public to remain attentive to their surroundings.

“Although we are peaceful here in the city, do not be confident, especially at night,” Duero added. “Close your doors and windows because, when criminals have a chance to commit a crime, they will do bad things.”

Last month, the ICPO revealed the city has been seeing a decline in criminality.

According to police data, criminal incidents in the second week of March saw a drop when compared to the previous year. A total of 45 criminal incidents were reported between March 8 and 14, a drop from the 63 recorded during the same period last year./WDJ