By Edwin Fernandez and Noel Punzalan/PNA
KIDAPAWAN CITY – Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, director of Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen), on Thursday ordered police units under him to be more aggressive in fighting all lawless armed groups, particularly those disturbing peace in the region.
Rasco made the directive following the roadside bombing perpetrated by communist rebels in Magpet, North Cotabato that left a police officer dead and 11 others injured.
“We should work harder and smarter. Dapat tayo ang mas matalino kaysa kalaban natin (We should be smarter and more intelligent than our enemies),” he told the officers, men and women of the North Cotabato provincial police after his visit to the injured officers.
Along with Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan, North Cotabato police director, Rasco visited PO1 Vince Mark Capilitan and PO1 Stephenson Pareño in separate hospitals of Kidapawan City.’
After a brief discussion on the incident, Rasco awarded them the “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting” and cash assistance as a token of the police’s full support for them and in recognition of their bravery displayed during the attack of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on the two-vehicle police convoy at 6 p.m. on Monday.
The police officers, though wounded, engaged the rebels in a firefight following the twin explosions from the NPA’s anti-personnel mines that hit the convoy along the road in Purok Kabisig, Barangay Poblacion, Magpet.
Rasco also visited the headquarters of the North Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Company at the provincial office in Amas, Kidapawan City.
While there, he awarded medals and cash assistance to nine other police officers who also sustained minor injuries that need no hospital confinement.
He commended the wounded personnel for their diligence and hard work and likewise imparted some advice to everyone present to be more careful in performing day to day their sworn duty to serve and protect lives and property.
Rasco directed Layugan to dig deeper into the case and make recommendations to avoid a repetition of the same incident. He then directed the provincial police to file appropriate charges against the NPA and make efforts to put them behind bars.
From North Cotabato, Rasco and the regional police officials visited the wake of PO1 Christopher Anadon in Digos City.
Anadon died while undergoing medication at a hospital in Kidapawan City following the ambush.
After executing a snappy salute to the fallen officer, Rasco handed over the award and cash assistance to his family.
The United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
