MAASIN RAID ‘FAILED INTEL’ | Improve intelligence sharing – Defensor

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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Sunday, June 25, 2017
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ILOILO City – A “failure of intelligence” was how Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. described the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels’ raid of the police station in Maasin, Iloilo exactly a week ago.

It was a “failure of communication,” too, particularly between the police and the locals, according to the governor.

Defensor is meeting with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Iloilo chapter, the provincial police and the Philippine Army to discuss measures to intensify their intelligence network against crimes.

Antiterrorism strategies may be tackled as well, he said.

“We’ll talk about what we lack in terms of manpower, communication systems and processes, and equipment to make our intelligence gathering and sharing more effective,” Defensor said in Hiligaynon.

The meeting will be held before the month ends.

The Office of the Governor provides the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) financial and logistical support.

A big chunk of the governor’s intelligence fund is allocated for the IPPO’s intelligence system while a portion is used to buy police equipment.

On June 18, NPA rebels stormed the Maasin police station and immobilized nine police officers. They also seized several firearms and equipment.

The rebels did not harm the police officers but handcuffed them. They also used the police station’s patrol car to flee.

That incident was a “failure of intelligence,” and the police officers should have put up a fight, Defensor said.

“It was obvious the police officers at the time lacked the will and the determination to fight. But we cannot put the blame solely on them for their getting scared or being unprepared,” he said in Hiligaynon.

Based on the information that reached him, Defensor said, some of the rebels were already posted at the public market before their comrades barged into the police station.

The raid would have been averted if only the officers outside the station knew about the presence of the rebels, he said.

It was a “failure of communication,” too. Defensor said he learned from Philippine Army officials that the part of Maasin where the rebels entered was 25 minutes away from the police station.

“If only the locals were cooperating, those who have seen the rebels’ vehicle could have sent a text message to the police,” he said. The raid would not have happened and the rebels would have been intercepted.”

But early this month the IPPO already acknowledged the threats facing police stations in the province.

Chief Inspector Aron Palomo, IPPO spokesperson, said the information that NPA rebels were planning to attack police stations in 15 municipalities came from residents of hinterland barangays.

Maasin police station was once of those put on red alert. Others were in the towns of San Joaquin, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Igbaras, Alimodian, Leon, Calinog, Bingawan, Badiangan, San Enrique, San Rafael, and Lemery, and the component city of Passi.

Mountainous villages of these towns were rebel-infested, said Palomo.

The police chiefs of the 15 towns were instructed to never leave their stations unmanned.

“Our men are ready to engage the rebels,” said Palomo. “We are coordinating with barangay officials to get information on suspicious groups in their turfs.”/PN

 

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