ILOILO CITY – Police Regional Office-6 chief Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky backed the proposal to construct additional police stations in this city.

POLICE Regional Office-6 chief Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky (left) receives a token from Police Col. Joeresty Coronica during his command visit to the headquarters of the Iloilo City Police Office on April 15. (Tara Yap)
“We are studying it further. We should look at the situation. The development is fast here,” said Wanky during a command visit to Camp Plagata, the headquarters of Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), on Monday, April 15.
ICPO chief Police Col. Joeresty Coronica has been seeking the construction of four new police stations to strengthen crime prevention here, the regional capital of Western Visayas.
One will be located near the Iloilo City Hall in City Proper District, the second in La Paz District, the third in Barangay Lapuz, and the fourth at Iloilo Business Park, Megaworld Corp.’s 72-hectare township in Mandurriao District.
However, the proposal has one drawback – the registered population of the city which is only less than 500,000.
Coronica said that the daytime population here is more than 500,000 because people from other parts of Iloilo province and the rest of Western Visayas transact with major businesses and offices of national government agencies.
Wanky echoed Coronica’s explanation that there are people who are non-residents but have put up businesses or go to school.
He added that the population should be given consideration and that keeping peace and order is an important aspect for Iloilo City.
While the proposal is still in the drawing board, Wanky urged the ICPO to realign deployment of its personnel where they are needed the most.
Wanky expressed satisfaction with the performance of ICPO units.