NEGROS Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noppo) Director Manuel Felix directed the police chiefs in northern Negros to establish checkpoints to block possible exit routes of rebels who attacked an Army detachment in Toboso last Saturday.
His order came in the aftermath of Saturday's 30-minute firefight in Barangay Bug-ang between members of the Philippine Army and the armed insurgents.
The incident resulted to the death of detachment commander Staff Sergeant Efraim Bagonoc and the wounding of Cafgu members Jaynar Villanueva and Arnel Solitario.
Noppo spokesperson Reina Protacio said the personnel of the Negros Occidental Provincial Public Safety Company were also alerted to be on the look-out for wounded New People's Army rebels in the area.
Felix also alerted all police stations in the province to take pre-emptive measures and strengthen their defensive positions in anticipation of rebel attacks particularly in the southern part of the province, Reina added.