Police guarding borders vs ‘rebels’

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 yesterday assured all borders are being guarded the suspected rebels who ambushed and killed six policemen in Negros island and fled to undisclosed directions Friday last week would not be able to reach other provinces in Central Visayas.

A social media post by a page of a local government unit of Bohol allegedly authored by Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto claimed that intelligence report disclosed that the the armed group left Guihulngan City onboard a motorized boat.

Because of this, the post urged everyone, especially those living along the shoreline and those who own motorized boats, to report suspicious persons to the nearest police station or call the police hotline numbers.

PRO-7 Director Jose Mario Espino said they were not taking lightly the possibility that the attackers may come ashore in Cebu, as Bohol is very near to Cebu.

“There is a report and we are taking that seriously... Wala tayong kinakatakot na magkakaroon ng spillover, but we are not taking any chances,” he said.

The police director said the social media post was proof that the community is also aware of the need to safeguard themselves when it comes to terrorism.

He directed his men to conduct preventive patrols at ports and other entry points that may be vulnerable targets of lawless elements.

“We are conducting preventive patrols sa mga areas na possible na pagdaungan ng armed men. We have identified places naman and our public safety forces are there patrolling the areas,” Espino said.

The Guihulngan policemen, led by Superintendent Arnel Arpon, who was killed along with five of his men last Friday, were responding to a call for assistance by a city councilor being waylaid by armed men, when suspected New People’s Army rebels fired at them when they reached Sitio Mandi-e, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

The fatalities were identified as Arpon, Police Officer 2 Alfredo Dunque, Police Officer Alvin Bolandres,  Police Officer 3 Teovic Agusto,  Senior Police Officer 2 Nicasio Tabilon,  and Senior Police Officer 1 Jesael Ancheta.

A security aid of City Councilor Edison dela Rita was also killed during an attack that Arpon and his men were responding to.

Espino said the incident has caused them to review operational procedures when it comes to calls for assistance.

“The police operational procedure (POP) is very clear na once may tumawag asking for assistance, ang unang steps diyan o procedure, is you should conduct validation. That’s why nag-ulit tayo to remind about our POP,” he said. (FREEMAN)