ALL police stations in Negros Occidental are currently under full alert status following the ambush perpetrated by the New People's Army (NPA) in Binalbagan town, Negros Occidental on Sunday, February 13.
Colonel Leo Pamittan, acting director of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noccpo), also ordered all police stations not to let their guards down.
"We don't want similar incidents to happen again especially to police stations in vulnerable areas," said Lieutenant Abegail Donasco, spokesperson for Noccpo.
Donasco said that policemen in the province are told to verify the complaint or report of crime incidents before going to the area right away, adding that the chiefs of police are given the freedom to "weigh-in the situation"
She said there is no need to augment additional personnel in Binalbagan as of the moment.
Although during the election period, less than 50 personnel will remain at the Noccpo headquarters as most of them will be augmented to various police stations especially in the areas of concern, Donasco added.
Meanwhile, Binalbagan town deputy police chief Lieutenant Charles Richard Casalan received "Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting" and a cash assistance from Police Regional Office-6 Director Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo Monday, February 14.
Casalan was one of the two policemen injured in the failed assassination carried out by the NPA at Sitio Candida in Barangay Bi-ao Sunday, February 13.
He underwent an operation at the Bacolod Adventist Hospital after he sustained an injury on his right arm when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near their patrol car.
They also engaged in a short gun battle against 40 to 50 NPA members who later retreated to various directions.
Aside from Casalan, Corporal Julius Tranquillero and civilian Mark Dave Dallasa were also injured.
The NPA's Mt. Cansermon Command of NPA based in south central Negros owned the ambush.
They called the attack as a counter-offensive response against the Philippine National Police which they claimed is being used by the present administration in its anti-insurgency operations.