The Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental has warned police chiefs to be vigilant against possible atrocities to be launched by the Communist New People’s Army.
PNP acting provincial police director Sr. Supt. Henry Biñas on Tuesday said he has directed all police stations to be always on the alert and not let their guard down in the wake of recent clashes between Army soldiers and suspected NPA terrorists in the province.
In fact, policemen on duty can be seen carrying not only their short firearms but long arms as well, he pointed out.
Sr. Supt. Biñas said the NPA might take advantage of and target potential threat areas that have “weak security measures”, that is why the police stations have to strengthen their security measures.
Just last week, Army troops clashed with some 30 suspected Communist terrorists in the hinterlands of Guihulngan City, about 116 kilometers south of this capital.
Prior to that, two civilians suspected by the NPA as being “informants” of the Armed Forces were shot to death in Canlaon City and Sta. Catalina town a few months back.
According to Sr. Supt. Biñas, the Communist terrorists’ presence is still felt in Negros Oriental, though not quite as significant as in the past.
While Negros Oriental has been declared as conflict-manageable and development ready a few years ago, the provincial police director said to not take for granted the presence of the NPA in the province.
Biñas urged the public to report to the nearest police station or local officials sightings of suspected armed individuals or groups. (Judy Flores Partlow)
