NPA attacks ‘treacherous’
CAGAYAN DE ORO - A Northern Mindanao police official has dismissed the series of attacks by communist rebels, saying the region remains safe and secure and that the rebels were just putting up a show of force to get noticed by world leaders.
Superintendent Lemuel Gonda, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao, downplayed the attacks on the police and military in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Iligan City in the past week as the communists have become “weak.”
“Ang ilang giingon nga nag-atake sila pagpakita sa Asean nga kusog ilang pwersa pero hinay na sila ug patalikod ilang attack (They said they launched the attack due to the Asean summit to show their force but they are actually weak as they attack treacherously),” Gonda said.
But Gonda said the attacks have prompted them to further strengthen intelligence monitoring and collaboration with the military and other law enforcement groups.
Gonda said Chief Superintendent Timoteo Pacleb, PRO-10 regional director, has already ordered all police stations in areas with known NPA presence to put in place stronger security measures.
Pacleb has also ordered the putting up of more checkpoints with stricter security inspections.
Pacleb, however, warned policemen in the region to be cautious and vigilant in responding to calls for police assistance in rebel-infested areas especially at night.
“We have standard operating procedure about anang pagrespond sa red areas nga dili gyud pwede. Ang gabuhaton ana is icoordinate sa barangay to verify reports (What we do is we coordinate with the barangay to verify the information),” Gonda said.
“Naa tay station guard sa matag police station kung asa didto ra mag-entertain ug mga tawo kay dili ta magkumpyansa (we have station guard in every police station where concerns are entertained because we cannot let our guard down),” Gonda added. With SunStar Philippines