POLICE and military forces tightened security measures for the interment of the former chief of Guihulngan City Police Station in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental today, August 5.
Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, acting director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said on Friday that Hinoba-an policemen with augmentation forces from other units of Police Regional Office (PRO)-18 are on full alert for the burial rites of Superintendent Arnel Arpon.
Troopers of the Philippine Army were also deployed to assist the policemen.
Arpon, 43, who hails from Catarman, Northern Samar, will be buried in a property owned by his family in his wife's hometown.
Arpon's last assignment was in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental where he was killed together with five other police officers while engaging in a firefight with suspected members of New People's Army at Sitio Masid-e, Barangay Magsaysay last July 21. They responded to Councilor Edison de la Rita's call for assistance.
Arpon also served as police chief of Sipalay City Police Station and Bago City Police Station in Negros Occidental and was once assigned at Bacolod City Police Office.
On July 30, Senior Police Officer 2 Mecasio Tabilon and Police Officer 2 Alvin Paul Bulandres were laid to rest in Guihulngan City while Senior Police Officer 1 Jesael Ancheta was buried in Jimalalud town in Negros Oriental.
A day after, Senior Police Officer 2 Teovic Agosto and Police Officer 2 Alfredo Dunque were buried in Guihulngan City and La Libertad town, respectively.
Meanwhile, the PRO-18 Regional Advisory Council for Police Transformation and Development (RACPTD) passed a resolution last July 27, condemning the murderous, barbaric and terroristic act of the NPA and requesting, appealing and prevailing upon all the local government units of Negros Island Region (NIR) to display a tarpaulin in conspicuous place in their respective government centers depicting such condemnation.
The resolution said that the RACPTD also recognized the fallen policemen's heroism, patriotism, and dedication to duty in disregard of their own personal safety to fulfill their sworn duty to serve and protect.