Cordillera cops augment ASEAN summit security
THE best police from the Cordillera region, including Baguio’s Finest will augment the manpower during the ASEAN ministerial meeting slated later this month.
Baguio City Police Office have sent members of the Explosives and Ordnance Division and the Special Weapons and Tactics team to form the city's contingent.
"As per directive by our Regional and higher headquarters requiring us to participate in national police operations, a contingent composed of operatives from the EOD SWAT and Crowd Disposal Units or CDU which is part of the technical support group have always been our augmentation in times like the coming ASEAN activities," BCPO director Chief Superintendent Ramil Saculles explained .
Saculles explained the request was based on where BCPO can effectively contribute to the manpower and technical expertise requirement needed in such operations.
Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) director, Chief Superintendent Elmo Francis Sarona on Wednesday meanwhile led the send-off for 309 personnel who will join the peace and security contingent for the summit.
Most of the 309 personnel came from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) led by Superintendent Greg Ammiyao.
Sarona enjoined the Cordillera contingent to follow orders from their commanding officers, and observe the rule that all movements should be covered by orders from the authorized officer while reminding policemen to observe cleanliness, and to apply maximum tolerance in case there would be rallyists who jeer at them.
"The contingent must follow orders
from their commanding officers, while all movements should be covered by orders from authorized officers. We remind our troops to observe cleanliness at all times, and for those engaged in the use of cigarettes and the chewing of beetle nutsto make it a point to dispose off their wastes properly," Sarona pointed out.
Sarona, however, said if they would be harmed, it is also their duty to protect themselves as he does not like anybody from the group to be hurt. He mentioned of the PROCOR’s battle cry — discipline, commitment, and teamwork — in the performance of their function as maintainers ofpeace and order during the summit.
Sarona assured the public that despite the deployment, PROCOR would continue to monitor “threat groups” and would be ready to respond to any emergency as the Philippine National Police would be in full alert status nationwide.
The Philippine National Police force remains in still in full alert status requiring all personnel to be prepared for deployment anytime should situation requires additional support coming from the regions.