LAOAG CITY—Personnel of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) are reaching out to the grassroots to capacitate village watchmen or the “barangay tanod” and “lupong tagapamayapa” on the national government’s fight against terrorism.
As the Duterte administration declared an all-out war against the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army after the botched peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, village officials and residents particularly those assigned to maintain peace and order in the community are being prepared to a greater challenge of countering terrorism threats.
In a capacity building seminar held at the Ilocos Norte Capitol auditorium on December 18, Monday, Police Chief Inspector Adriano Licudan told village participants about the government’s serious efforts to maintain peace and order.
To do this, Licudan said the police and other law enforcers need the cooperation and support of the local community.
In a video presentation, the police showed some acts of terrorism and how villagers help prevent them from happening.
While the province is relatively peaceful, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa Marcos urged participants during the seminar to stay vigilant because the neighboring provinces of Abra, Cagayan and Ilocos Sur have had previous violent incidents involving local terrorist groups.
According to the governor, there is a need to deputize the members of the “lupon” or “tanod” in the barangay to man checkpoints or help in the implementation of the helmet ordinance and confiscation of illegal firearms due to the limited number of law enforcers doing the job.
For Rogelio Ceredon, a resident of Dingras town, the capacity building seminar is important for them to become updated of what is happening around as well as to familiarize themselves on local ordinances and how to implement them. (PNA)
