PALO, Leyte — The Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern VIsayas) is still awaiting the result of the investigation on the attack by about 50 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on the police station of Lapinig, Northern Samar before dawn on Friday.
PRO-8 Acting Regional Director Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said Monday that he visited Lapinig upon his arrival in the region over the weekend to check on the local situation and the police station raided by the rebels.
The attack injured two policemen while the rebels carted several firearms, laptops and communication devices.
“The investigation by a team from the regional office is still ongoing. We are now preparing the report and looking at the filing of charges (against) those who will be identified as responsible for this attack,” Carlos said.
To avoid similar incidents, he said they will make sure that the region’s police are properly equipped.
They will also strengthen collaboration with the Philippine Army and local chief executives.
“We have to evaluate our manpower to see if there’s a need for the mobile forces to reinforce some police stations,” Carlos added.
The new regional police director also assured a better relationship with the media, whom he considers as a partner in information dissemination.
Prior to his new assignment, Carlos served as Aviation Security Group director early this year and chief of the Philippine National Police public information office last year.
He replaces Chief Supt. Mariel Magaway who was relieved after the incident.
The attack happened less than two months after the misencounter in Sta. Rita, Samar between policemen and army soldiers that killed six junior police officers. (Roel Amazona/PNA)
