MALAYBALAY CITY — Villagers from the Upper Pulangui District, a backcountry area in Malaybalay City, have sought police presence in their area for security.
On behalf of the eight barangays in Upper Pulangui District, Barangay Zamboanguita chairman Masi Pequiño made the request with the officer-in-charge of the Malaybalay City Police Station (MCPS) during the orientation cum training for Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) of Malaybalay’s 46 barangays last Oct. 5.
Pequiño said the hinterland villages “have difficulty asking police assistance due to the absence of a police outpost or detachment in the area.”
He cited, for one, how barangay officials and public safety officers, or barangay tanods, had failed to stop an armed man from harassing residents in the place at one time.
Barangay Aglayan chairman Glorio Sajulga, who was once the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Federation president of the city supports Pequiño’s request.
He said residents in the area are in need of police security against criminality.
The military has tagged some of the barangays in Upper Pulangui as under the influence of the New People’s Army. Several encounters between the military and the NPA have occurred in the area.
Several years ago, 11 members of the NPA were killed after they attacked the military detachment in Barangay Zamboanguita. Some military and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were also killed.
Supt. Alan Abanales, newly installed officer-in-charge of MCPS, said the cops’ main mandate is anti-criminality and counterinsurgency.
But he admitted they could not put up a detachment in the area since the city police’s strength is only 93.
He said about 35 personnel are needed to put up one police detachment, gravely affecting the city police’s operations.
However, Abanales said the city police will still assess the request.
He hinted that the Liga ng Mga Barangay can submit a resolution requesting the Bukidnon Provincial Police Office (BPPO) for a police detachment in the area.
The new MCPS OIC added that the request can also be coursed through to Police Regional Office for action.
As to the immediate police response in case of trouble or murder incident, Abanales said it is their obligation to respond.
He said as a procedure, they will have to assess the situation first before responding because there is a possibility of an ambush.
This is his answer when Pequiño expressed his dismay in delayed police response in times they requested police assistance.
Abanales said the nearest police outpost in the area is that of Bukidnon Provincial Mobile Force Company stationed in Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan, a nearby town.
He said the villagers can also ask help from the military stationed in the area, since the police and the military have an agreement for immediate action in the province.
Upper Pulangui area is in the eastern part of Malaybalay, bordering Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur. ( Mel Madera/PNA)
