POLICE Regional Office (PRO)-Davao director Manuel Gaerlan has directed its police line units to brace against possible attacks of the New People’s Army (NPA) on their stations as well as to intensify their intelligence monitoring and operation to thwart these.
Speaking in a press briefing on Wednesday, PRO-Davao spokesperson Andrea dela Cerna said that Chief Superintendent Gaerlan gave the police units under PRO 11 a directive to be on high alert.
“Unang-una may mga standard operating procedures naman tayo na sinusunod,” Chief Inspector dela Cerna said, thus, preparing against the rebels should not be that difficult.
But she admits that police stations are vulnerable only because these have to be open 24/7 and the public should not be blocked from seeking its assistance, thus, the importance of intelligence monitoring.
“Isa sa instructions ng ating regional director is mas lalong paigtingin ang ating intelligence operations. Sabi nga po natin first line of defense ng PNP is the community intelligence na naga-gather natin sa kanila. That is why kailangan nating paigtingin ang pakikiugnayan sa mga barangay,” dela Cerna said.
Earlier, the terrorist group attacked the Municipal Police Station of Binuangan town in Misamis Oriental on December 3, and left four policemen wounded due to shrapnel from a rifle grenade. A two-hour firefight ensued before the rebels retreated.
The policemen were also reminded to ensure personal safety and security as the NPA’s urban hit squad Special Partisan Unit (Sparu or Sparrow) is targeting individual personnel.
On November 12, Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Bansag Garol Jr. was killed in an incident perpetrated by suspected NPA members.
Garol, 34, a resident of Rubber Village in Calinan, Davao City, is assigned at Baguio Police Station.
Garol succumbed to several gunshot wounds in his body. The suspects also carted away his motorcycle and service firearms.
“Yon ang iniiwasan natin yong mga Sparu unit na pinapaikot nila ngayon kagaya ng nangayri sa Calinan up to now under investigation kung sino ang suspect,” she said.
She added, “Kasama ang safety and security ng istasyon kaya kailangan active tayo palagi. Be very vigilant lahat ng officers natin dapat ready sa anumang pag-atake.”