Police station chiefs and intelligence units in Western Visayas have been ordered to intensify their monitoring of identified crime gangs and other lawless groups engaged in robbery-hold-up activities in Negros Occidental and Panay island.

This was after Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, regional police director of Western Visayas, expressed alarm over the apparent increase in robbery-hold-up incidents in the region.

Of the 652 cases of robbery-hold-up incidents reported from January to August this year, 263 took place in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

Two weeks ago, a member of the notorious ‘Ilonggo’ group died, while six others were arrested, after they robbed at gunpoint employees of the Visayas Coco Development Corporation in Pavia town of Iloilo.

Cruz ordered police field commanders to strengthen proactive measures, including police visibility, checkpoint and chokepoint operations, to prevent robbery-hold-up incidents.

He also urged a review of the police integrated patrol systems and massive information dissemination to draw the awareness and cooperation of the public.

Cruz also called for vigilance from the public.*GPB

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