THE Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noppo), particularly the 31 police chiefs in the different towns and cities of the province, is still on heightened alert after the recent attack of suspected communist rebels in a military detachment in Barangay Bug-ang, Toboso last Saturday.
The incident resulted in the death of detachment commander, Staff Sergeant Efraim Bagonoc, and the wounding of Cafgu members Jaynar Villanueva and Arnel Solitario.
It also resulted in the loss of more than 20 high-powered firearms from the detachment.
Chief Inspector Jefferson Descallar, chief of Noppo's Operations and Plans Branch, said all chiefs of police stations in the province were directed to secure their respective stations or camps to thwart any possible attacks by insurgents.
Descallar also reminded the Noppo personnel to initiate "target hardening measures" or overt display of very strong defense to deter attacks, and intensify intelligence-gathering by maximizing utilization of Barangay Intelligence Networks and other anti-crime groups to preempt enemy attack and harassment.
Recently, Noppo Director Manuel Felix directed the police chiefs in northern Negros to establish checkpoints to block possible exit routes of rebels who attacked the army detachment in Toboso. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)