THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said Monday, March 6, that it is closely monitoring the province's border against the assailants of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Four suspects have already been arrested, while one was killed in an encounter with the pursuing government forces.
The three suspects were former soldiers, and were discharged from the service years ago.
NOCPPO spokesperson Capt. Judesses Catalogo said that shortly after receiving the information of the attack in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, March 4, their stations in the southern part of Negros Occidental were immediately ordered to establish checkpoints and road blocks along the main roads and highways, particularly in Barangay Culipapa in Hinoba-an.
As of Monday, Catalogo said the checkpoint remains, and every motorist was stopped to have their identification checked.
NOCPPO Provincial Mobile Force Company has also joined the manhunt operations by serving as a blocking force, as well as patrolling the far flung areas bordering Negros Oriental to prevent the suspects from escaping.
"We are closely coordinating with other police and law enforcement units involved in the manhunt operation against the late governor's killers," Catalogo said.
Meanwhile, in response to the growing number of attacks against local chief executives across the country, Catalogo said that right after the attack against Degamo, NOCPPO alerted the chiefs of police in the province to contact their respective local chief executives and conduct threat assessments.
So far, Catalogo said the local chief executives in the province said they currently do not see any serious threats to their security, although some have acknowledged receiving threats in the past.
"We remind our local chief executives not to be complacent," Catalogo said.
He further advised the local chief executives to get in touch with their police chiefs and review their security assessments.*