In less than 48 hours, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) solved a mall holdup involving the wife of former police director and current provincial disaster risk reduction chief Cornelio Salinas. The timing? Perfect. The speed? Lightning. The result? Case closed.
And so, the public asks: what’s the secret formula? Is it really the “five-minute response legacy” of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III? Or is it the simple fact that this time, the victim was not just any ordinary citizen—but the wife of the retired police colonel?
ICPO Director Colonel Kim Legada insisted it was the normal procedure: “Our personnel had no idea who the victim was when they responded. The first report only said there was a holdup.”
The incident took place at the carpark of shopping mall in Mandurriao district on Wednesday night, September 3. The armed suspect took around P30,000 from the victim, identified as Lulu Salinas, a medical doctor.
Mayor Raisa Treñas, ever decisive, quickly ordered a full report by noon on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Police Regional Office (PRO-6) Director Brigadier General Josefino Ligan also flexed, vowing the case would be solved in 48 hours.
Just a few blocks away, an acid attack victim near Pison Avenue died waiting for justice that never came. No “case closed” pronouncements. No 48-hour deadline. Just another family left hanging.
And then there’s the “unsolved rumble” in the city, which police say they’ll fix by increasing visibility.
The contrast in outcomes has fueled public discussion over whether the speed of police investigations depends on the victim’s profile or connections.IMT
