BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Police in Western Visayas are extra vigilant and have already initiated pre-emptive operations against any possible deployment of New People’s Army assassins.
While they have not monitored any deployment of SPARU teams in Negros Island as of this time, Col. Michael Samson, officer-in-charge of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said yesterday they are ready to counter any terroristic activities of the NPA.
Samson called on Army troops in Negros to be vigilant, as they initiated pre-emptive measures, such as the conduct of checkpoints and heightened visibility operations in the hinterland.
But Samson said Negrenses will not allow any terroristic acts of the NPA, citing many instances of residents themselves reporting the presence of armed men in their communities.
The Police Regional Office 6 also reminded personnel to be extra vigilant after receiving information that the Kilusang Rehiyon-Panay (KR-Panay) is planning to conduct atrocities targeting PNP outposts, vital installations, and identified uniformed personnel.
Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda, PRO6 director, said the planned retaliation is to avenge their comrades, who died after putting up a fight against the police officers, who simultaneously served search warrants on Dec. 30 last year in Capiz and Iloilo.
The SPARUs are known assassins and murderers, who kill government troops, informants, indigenous peoples, and unarmed civilians, Miranda said.
The PRO6 appeals to the general public to notify them of the presence of any suspicious persons roaming near police stations and camps.
“We should protect each other,” Miranda said.
CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison earlier confirmed the deployment of NPA assassins in urban areas and town centers.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, 3rd Infantry Division commander, who visited the 542nd Engineering Construction Battalion in Sitio Tuyuman, Brgy. Caradio-an, Himamaylan City, lauded the Joint Enhanced Military and Police Operations (JEMPO) Task Force, headed by Col. Leonardo Peña, for a job well done in Negros. Vinoya said the JEMPO TF in Negros Island will continue to hunt down the NPA remnants in Negros, to finally eradicate them and prevent them from plaguing the Negros provinces and other areas.*
