AUTHORITIES continue to scour Mount Kapuwaw in sitio Mabalagan, Bagnen Proper, Bauko, Mountain Province following the firefight on March 29 between the Regional Mobile Force Command of the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-Cor) and members of the New People’s Army.
The shootout, which ensued after the NPA allegedly attacked the police, left one officer dead and another wounded.
Police Brigadier General Israel Dickson, PRO-Cor regional director, said the continuing internal security operation conducted in the area is part of their operational plan.
“We are currently conducting a hot pursuit operation against the NPAs in that area. We know that the NPA are planning to conduct disturbances in the prevailing peace in the area and we want to prevent the occurrence of bigger incidents against our small police stations or other vital government installations,” Dickson said during the Regional Joint Security Control Center Coordinating Conference at Camp Dangwa in Benguet Province.
The municipal government in Bauko has suspended tourism-related activities in the town.
“The temporary halt of tourism activities at Bauko is a fault of the NPAs because the incident was instigated by them and we hope the people would understand this because if this was not done by the NPAs, no such measure by the local government would have been made in that area,” Dickson added.
Colonel Henry Dayaoen, commander of the 503rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said there was no need for the local government to suspend tourism activities in the area since the military and police are there working for peace.
“The residents saw the presence of the NPA’s terrorizing them who in turn informed the PNP and AFP of their presence and as such resulted in the said encounter,” Dayaoen said.
Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit, who was present during a forum in Baguio City, said fighting between the government forces and the NPA has eased.
He said he ordered the Municipal Social Workers and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to secure possible victims.
“There is no firefight yet but we don’t know what is happening in the mountains. We are still waiting for the update coming from the Philippine Army. As of now, (the) safety of the residents and tourists is our primary concern which is why we have warned them not to go to the nearby farms aside from proper warnings given to tourists,” Akilet said.