THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday, December 16, warned its commanders that they will immediately be removed from their post if an indiscriminate firing incident is recorded in their areas or responsibility.
Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan, PNP deputy chief for operations, said they will be implementing a one-strike policy against police commanders for even a single case of communist rebel attack and indiscriminate firing in their area particularly during the Christmas season.
The PNP in Luzon and Visayas is on full alert starting Sunday, December 15, which means that no policeman will be allowed to go on leave to ensure efficient deployment during the holidays.
"On indiscriminate firing that would result to injury and deaths, the one-strike policy will strictly apply to all police commanders and chiefs of police who would fail to take appropriate actions to solve these cases within 24 hours," said Cascolan in a press briefing on Monday at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
"Our ultimate target is to reduce the 33 incidents of indiscrimate firing and 12 cases of stray bullet injuries last year to zero this Christmas season," he added.
Cascolan said the same policy applies to attacks that are expected to be staged by the communists to celebrate their founding anniversary on December 26.
The Communist Party of the Philippines anniversary is usually marked with rebel attacks on government forces.
Cascolan said that the implementation of the one-strike policy would compel police commanders to intensify the security measures in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
"They should know what is going on in the communities under them in order to avert incidents like these," said Cascolan.
Cascolan cited the rebel attack on a police station in Misamis Oriental in December 2017.
He said they later found out that the rebels who staged the attack were holed up in the houses near the police station.
He noted the intensified coordination between the police and the people in their areas of responsibility.
A policeman and a civilian were killed and 15 people were wounded when suspected communist rebels staged an attack in Barangay Libutan, Borongan City, Eastern Samar on December 13, 2019.
The military said the attack is part of the CPP anniversary. (SunStar Philippines)