The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has raised the public’s crime prevention awareness and at the same time showed their men’s caring side by giving silk flowers on Valentine’s Day.

ICPO spokesperson, Maj. Shella Mae Sangrines, in a phone interview on Tuesday, said their police force used their own money to buy 500 artificial flowers which they gave to students and teachers at the Iloilo National High School, drivers, commuters, and even passersby in La Paz district early morning.

“We attached crime prevention tips together with the flowers,” Sangrines said.

“This is a yearly tradition of the ICPO. However, the focus before was the downtown area. This time we target students and event their teachers,” she added.

A senior citizen became emotional when she received the Valentine’s gift as none of her four children remembered her on this day of hearts.

The distribution of flowers and safety tips was followed by an outreach program targeting the elderly this time facilitated by the Regional Finance Service Office 6 of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) at Barangay Zamora-Melliza in City Proper district.

Dubbed “a Heart’s Day to Remember for Elders,” recipients were provided with gifts, snacks, vitamins and food supplements, free eye check-ups, medical consultations, nail grooming and haircut. (PNA)