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Monday, March 01, 2004
AFP, PNP ink deal to thwart insurgency, threat
By Claudine C. Dumalag
* Also present are all chiefs of police and battalions, and company commanders in Negros island, with lawyer Jose Maria Valencia, chief-of-staff of Gov. Joseph Marañon and Lawyer Arturo Ompoc, representative of Negros Oriental Gov. George Arnaiz
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP in Negros Island signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) Friday vowing to suppress the insurgency problem and other serious threats to national security.
Those who signed in the presence of Lt. General Jacinto Ligot, commander of the AFP Central Command for the Visayas, were Brig. General Jeffrey Sodusta, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade; Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras, Negros Occidental provincial police director; and Senior Supt. Amaron Morrok, provincial police director of Negros Oriental.
Also present were all chiefs of police and battalions, and company commanders in Negros Island, with lawyer Jose Maria Valencia, chief-of-staff of Gov. Joseph Marañon and Lawyer Arturo Ompoc, representative of Negros Oriental Gov. George Arnaiz.
They recognized the need for the 303rd Infantry Brigade commander and the island provincial police directors to issue clear-cut guidelines for the AFP and PNP field units to follow during the conduct of mandated tasks.
This is to ensure a well-coordinated plan of action in addressing any unexpected and unforeseen situation.
The MOA also cited Section 3 of Republic Act 8551, which provides that "through information gathering and performance of its ordinary police functions, support the AFP on matters involving suppression of insurgency, except in cases where the President shall call on the PNP to support the AFP in combat operations."
There is a need also for the AFP to continue mobilizing government resources to protect the people from any terrorist activities of the New People's Army (NPA) and to preserve public order and safety.
Ligot said the agreement will continue to be effective even after the forthcoming local and national elections in May 10.
"The signing of the MOA shows cooperation between the AFP and the PNP and even the other agencies in the country. We will have to unite for the development of the country. If we are not united, all of us will fall," Ligot added.
The MOA was proposed and implemented in 1999 by former President Joseph Estrada and was formalized or strengthened only Friday.
Section 1 of RA 8551 further stated that the PNP is directed to support the AFP in the internal security operations.
The PNP is authorized to make appropriate adjustments in its organization subject to the approval of the National Police Commission.
Section 2 provides for a joint AFP-PNP system, which shall provide the mechanism, structure and procedures for the integrated assessment of the security situation and for the integrated planning, coordinating, implementation state and its institutions.
(February 28, 2004 issue)
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