Official willing to be relieved in case of NPA attack

DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum said that he is willing to be relieved should one of his police stations be attacked by the members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

On Friday, December 21, Tagum said he will adhere to the one-strike policy of the Philippine National Police (PNP) if one of the 12 stations in Davao City will be raided by the communist rebels.

Thus, he said that he modified and upgraded security measures in different police stations especially those in far-flung areas.

“Definitely, kung malusutan ta, dili lang ang unit commander ang expected nga ma relieve mismo ako is ready to be relieved (If we will be attacked NPA, it’s not only the unit commander who will be relieved from their post but I am also ready to be relieved),” Tagum said.

The Police Regional Office (PRO 11) implemented full alert status in anticipation for the possible attacks of the Communist Party of the Philippines’s (CPP’s) armed wing and urged the policemen to remain vigilant after the rebels were directed to launch attacks against government facilities ahead of their 50th founding anniversary.

They were directed to implement focused law enforcement operations, target hardening measures, strengthening police-community partnership and information dissemination.

The city’s police chief said they were not discounting the possibility of attacks in Davao City, thus, he directed all his personnel to be on alert.

It can be recalled that suspected communist rebels raided a police station in Lapinig town, Northern Samar on August 10 that left two cops wounded. Following the incident, PNP chief Director Oscar Albayalde relieved the top official of Eastern Visayas and all the members of a police station in Northern Samar.

“Tanan ta nakaalerto and that’s the reason why naa natay mga bag-ong innovations sa atong mga police stations nga ang atong mga police assistance desk or mga desk officer are now located outside the police station kay dili nami magpa sulod ug visitors ug mga walk in clients (We are in full alert and so, we stepped up innovations in our police stations. Our desk officers are now located outside the police station because we will no longer allow visitors or walk in clients),” he added.

Those who will seek their help will be entertained at their perimeter fence to prevent the deceptive tactics of the NPA who will pose as ordinary civilians inside and then raid the station.