Cops told to fortify stations

POLICE Regional Office-Western Visayas Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. has directed all chiefs-of-police and station commanders especially in far-flung barangays to strengthen their defenses in the wake of recent attacks by communist rebels.

Pagdilao ordered the station commanders to be more vigilant against treacherous attacks on police stations and other vital government facilities by the terrorist group New People's Army (NPA) through target hardening measures and intelligence operations.

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He also directed Chief Inspector Nelvin Ricohermoso, commander of the 3rd Maneuver Battalion of the Regional Public Safety Battalion based in Panay Island, to identify stations that are located in NPA-infiltrated areas and reinforce the stations with additional personnel to deter future attacks.

Pagdilao's directive was in response to the attacks on an Army detachment in San Remegio, Antique and the latest incident involving suspected communist insurgents who razed an L-300 delivery van loaded with cigarettes on July 26 at Poblacion, Leon, Iloilo province.

Investigation conducted by Leon Police Station revealed that the L-300 van owned by Megavia Corporation was on its way to Leon Public Market when five armed men believed to be NPA rebels took it at gun point from the driver Joemarie Tuadles, 27. The rebels drove the vehicle to Barangay Samlague, Leon.

The suspects were later joined by some 15 men armed with long high-powered firearms who, in turn, took a P270,000 worth of collection money. The rebels later burned the L-300 van.

Police said Megavia Corporation has been receiving extortion demands from the NPA lately prior to the incident.

The extortion activities, including the robbery and burning of consumer goods, will surely discourage businessmen from investing in Western Visayas and will retard the economic activities of the area, said Pagdilao, adding that the people will eventually suffer from their adverse effect.

With that, he said the police force will closely coordinate with units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Western Visayas and check the reported resurgence of the communist rebels.