DUMAGUETE CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Police Office (PRO-7) in Region 7 is starting to pour in more combat-trained troops to Negros Oriental to beef up its anti-insurgency operations in the province.
PRO-7 Regional Director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino announced the deployment of one platoon from the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 (RPSB-7) during the regular Monday morning flag-raising activity of the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office (NORPPO) at Camp Fernandez in Sibulan town.
In an interview, Espino disclosed that the move is just the first step towards securing the province from the threat posed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
“That is only initial to augment Guihulngan (police force) in response to the clamor of the local executive and residents” of that northern Negros Oriental city, said Espino.
He cited the ambush allegedly perpetrated by the communist rebels in Guihulngan City last July where the police chief and five of his men were killed, while three other police personnel and a civilian were wounded.
Chief Supt. Espino disclosed that in the coming days, the PRO-7 would be creating a task force to solely address the insurgency problem in Negros Oriental.
This would be headed by PRO-7 Deputy Director for Operations, Sr. Supt. Dennis Agustin, he further disclosed.
Also, the PRO-7 will beef up the Public Safety Battalion and the Public Safety Company to further strengthen the PNP’s internal security operations (ISO), he added.
According to Espino, a command conference on Monday with the Negros Oriental PNP, headed by the acting provincial director, Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento, will help the PRO-7 determine the strength, equipment and capabilities of the anti-insurgency troops here.
“Kung ano man ang kulang, pupunuan natin. (Whatever is lacking, we will provide)”, he added.
It was Chief Supt. Espino’s first visit to the NORPPO as he assumed command of the latter as PRO-7 regional director following the abolition of the Negros Island Region, which took effect September 30. | PNA
