Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, the new officer-in-charge of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), has expressed alarm over the increasing number of suicide cases in the province.
From January 1 to September 15 this year, the IPPO recorded 63 suicide incidents.
Gorero noted that the figure is even higher than the number of the province’s death toll from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which stood at 22 as of Sept. 20.
The towns of Cabatuan, Tigbauan, and Mina had the most number of cases in the province with five each.
Estancia and Passi City came in second with 4 cases each and followed by Igbaras, Leon, Dumangas and Oton with 3 cases each.
Calinog, Ajuy, San Enrique, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, San Dionisio, and Sara logged two cases each.
Gorero said they need the help of mental health experts to address the rising number of suicide cases in the province.
In the whole Western Visayas, the province posted the most number of cases from January to August this year, followed by Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Antique, Iloilo City, and Bacolod City.
The region registered a total of 215 suicide cases in the first eight months of 2020, data from the Police Regional Office (PRO-6) showed.IMT
