ILOILO CITY – One-hundred seventy-six life vests were distributed to police units in Western Visayas on Oct. 31 after a policeman drowned while on duty on Oct. 16.
“No one else should die while on duty,” said Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Police Regional Office-6 chief, who stressed that this equipment will enhance their capacity to respond.
POLICE Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky turns over mobility assets to police units in Westen Visayas in a ceremony in Camp Delgado in Iloilo City on Oct. 31. (Tara Yap)
Wanky prioritized the procurement of life vests after Police Staff Sgt. Mechael Gatinao drowned after he fell off a patrol boat in Guimaras while chasing illegal fishermen. “His life would have been saved if he was wearing a life vest,” Wanky said.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (PPO) received 80 life vests, Capiz PPO, 56, and Guimaras PPO, 40.
Wanky also distributed other mobility assets for police units in Aklan, Antique, and Negros Occidental provinces and the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod on Oct. 31.
These include two vans for the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) teams, a light transport vehicle for the Antique PPO, and a 4x4 patrol vehicle for the Alimodian Municipal Police Station in Iloilo province.
The PRO-6 turned over 1,060 raincoats, 600 hard hats, and 120 tires.