By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/ PNA
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center (PJSCC) has recommended five additional towns in Antique Province to be categorized as election hotspots.
Lt. Col. Norby Escobar, Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) deputy director for operations, said in an interview Tuesday that New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are present in these five municipalities.
“The five towns are Culasi, Hamtic, Sebaste, Sibalom, and Valderrama,” he said.
The recommendation was submitted by the PJSCC to the Regional PJSCC about two weeks ago and is still waiting for approval.
“The RJSCC once it approves the PJSCC’s recommendation will forward the recommendation to the National JSCC that will make the final approval,” he said.
Placing the five towns under election hotspot will serve as basis for the deployment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), especially in hinterland areas.
“As of now, there is only one hotspot, which is San Remigio,” he said.
He said that San Remigio was the first town to be recommended by the PJSCC months ago to be categorized as election hotspot because of the presence of the NPA.
“In fact, there were 15 NPA members who tried to fire about 200 to 300 meters away from the southeast portion of the San Remigio Police Station Sunday evening,” Escobar said.
Escobar said the incident was a result of their frustration for failing to attack the town’s police station since the police personnel were on heightened alert.
“The NPA could have done that also as part of their founding anniversary celebration,” Escobar said.
The NPA founding anniversary was last March 29.
Escobar added that no one was hurt during the incident.
