CV police on alert against rebel attacks

CEBU, Philippines — With the recent attacks of the members of New People's Army in Misamis Oriental and Camarines Norte, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has ordered all its police units, especially in Negros Occidental, to be vigilant.

“I directed all my station commanders to be vigilant on the movement of the NPAs, at the same time our regional public safety forces are now required to conduct regular proactive and preventive patrolling,” said PRO-7 director Jose Mario Espino.

On Saturday morning, one police officer died while six were injured after they were attacked while on board a police patrol car allegedly by more than a hundred armed men while traversing the road of Barangay Dagit, Labo, Camarines Norte.

A day after, the Binuangan Police Station in Misamis Oriental was also attacked by 60 to100 armed persons, which injured at least four policemen on duty.

Espino said that the national headquarters has directed all regional offices to be alert for possible attacks from the NPA after the peace talk between the government and National Democratic Front was canceled.

“All our stations must have set up their own camp defense plan, target hardening, and they are conducting simulated exercises,” Espino said.

He also directed all the chief of police in region 7 to strengthen the Barangay Ugnayan program in which police officers regularly visit barangays, especially the remote ones, to communicate and reachout to the community.

This way, the police will be able to check if there are possible members of the NPA in the area.

He also said that through Barangay Ugnayan, they were able to identify barangay officials and residents who are supporting the NPAs.

Espino also advised cause-oriented groups who plan to visit areas that are identified to be affected by the NPAs to closely coordinate with the police and barangay officials prior to their visit.

He said this following the recent shooting incident in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental involving members of a human rights group that led to the death of their two members while one was injured.

“There is no problem with that but they should coordinate with the nearest police station and inform the police of the purpose of their visit so we can provide them with security personnel, especially if the area that they will visit is identified to have NPAs,” said Espino.  (FREEMAN)