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[av_heading heading=’ 16 areas at ‘high risk’ of rebel attacks ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO and GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, November 30, 2017
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ILOILO – Police stations of 15 towns and the component city of Passi have been put on red alert.
According to Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, provincial police director, Passi and these municipalities are “high-risk areas” for New People’s Army (NPA) attacks.
San Joaquin, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tubungan, and Igabaras are in the 1st District while Alimodian and Leon are in the 2nd District.
Janiuay, Maasin, Lambunao, Calinog, and Bingawan are in the 3rd District while Lemery, San Rafael and Balasan are in the 5th District.
Tayaba had a meeting with the police stations chiefs of these areas yesterday, five days after rebels ambushed policemen in Barangay Bolo, Maasin on Nov. 24. Don’t be complacent but be prepared always, he told them.
“I told them not leave their police stations unmanned,” said Tayaba, recalling the June 18 rebel raid of Maasin’s police station.
Aside from their government-issued pistols, policemen must also carry long firearms, added Tayaba.
“Be ready to engage the NPA,” he told the police chiefs.
There have been rebel sightings in these high-risk areas such as Maasin, Leon, Alimodian, Igbaras, and Tubungan, said Tayaba.
“Hindi lang sila gumagawa ng krimen like panununog and extortion. And ‘yung pag-ambush sa tropa natin, they wanted to show na meron pa silang pwersa para matakot ang mga kompanya at mga taong kanilang hinuhothotan,” said Tayaba.
He stressed the importance of coordination with barangay officials who could alert the police about the presence of rebels in their villages.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office is also in touch with the Philippine Army, said Tayaba.
According to Department of Interior and Local Government undersecretary Eduardo Año who was here on Tuesday, the government is bent on wiping out the NPA in Panay Island before 2018 is over.
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz will be creating a new battalion.
Last week, the government terminated the peace talks with the rebels. President Rodrigo Duterte also said he would declare the NPA a terrorist group.
Two days prior to the Maasin ambush, the NPA also attacked policemen in Sibalom, Antique and wounded four./PN
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