Tuesday, September 11, 2007 N. Mindanao police, army intensify anti-NPA drive By Stephen Capillas
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) can now intensify its operations against the communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels in areas where ambushes in municipal police precincts often result in deaths and the confiscation of small and high-powered firearms.
Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID) chief Major General Jose Barbieto signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the military and the PNP Monday at the 4th ID headquarters that would create an internal security coordinating committee that would draft guidelines and govern the conduct of operations against the communist rebels.
In interviews with local media, Barbieto said the MOA merely institutionalizes an existing partnership between the military and the police in the government's counter-insurgency operations but now upgrades the role of the police to ensure its pro-active participation in the anti-insurgency campaigns.
"Before, the police are limited to intelligence gathering, which are being fed to the military but now the MOA provides that the police would also complement the military in terms of tactical operations and civil military operations as well," Barbieto told local media.
The MOA signing was held even as the communist NPA rebels have stepped up their assaults on police precincts in the towns of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon provinces that resulted in the theft of more than 30 firearms in separate incidents.
Barbieto said the MOA would help identify the areas to be covered by the regional PNP in tactical and civil military operations.
He said the police can conduct operations even without coordination from the military.
"For example, areas like Camiguin province and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Valencia, and Malaybalay would be covered by the police," Barbieto said.
He said these details would be further refined in discussions between the members of the internal security coordinating committee.
The 4th ID chief said the anti-insurgency operations would be focused on urban areas.
Under last year's Executive Order issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, local government units (LGUs) are tasked to provide funds from its resources for this purpose.
"Also under that EO, the ronda tanods would support the police in their anti-insurgency operations and they would be provided training for these activities," Barbieto said.
