To Negros Oriental: AFP, PNP sending more men vs. reds

CEBU, Philippines —  More personnel from the joint regional forces of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines are set to be sent to Negros Oriental to ensure further security.

Yesterday morning, the Police Regional Office-7 and the AFP signed a Memorandum of Agreement in conducting joint operations in relation to Memorandum Order 32 (MO 32) held in Camp Sergio Osmeña of the PRO-7.

According to PRO-7 director, Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, the primary target for the PRO-7 based on their assessment is Negros Oriental, in particular the first district that encompasses two cities and seven municipalities.

However, he added that the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor were still given special concern by both the AFP and the PNP.

In accordance with MO 32, troops are to be deployed to some areas in the country by the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte. Sinas said that they will be placing more personnel in Negros Oriental to resolve the insurgency of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front.

“This is also in line with MO 32; placing more personnel sa Negros Oriental to have a whole government approach to resolve the CPP/NPA/NDF problem.” said Sinas

With the joint planning between the AFP and PNP, Sinas hopes that there will be no more misencounters of their operating units in Negros.

"Hopefully, with this joint planning, we'll be able to prevent nga wala nay mahitabo nga misencounter among operating units didto," he said.

He added that they will make use of joint planning and executions like doing patrols and raids to make operations more efficient.

They have also established a structure for whoever will be the ground commander in case of major military and police operations in the area.

On the part of the military, Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, said that they are thankful that there is a joint effort to resolve the problem that has been around for a long time and added that they needed the full support of the PNP.

"On the part of the military, we are fortunate that there are joint efforts. We have accepted the fact that we cannot do it alone - we need the full support of the Philippine National Police if we want to end this long, big, problem of our country," Dolina said.

He added that joint operations often have more success and if this was to be done in all parts of the country, there will be a bigger probability to degrade the capabilities of the CPP/NPA/NDF by the end of the next year.

Sinas also said that the joint planning will be continuous and won't only be for the Christmas time, elections, and other major activities.

"The end objective of this is at least to neutralize or eliminate the long war natin against the CPP/NPA/NDF," said Sinas. — Imarie Jane D. Madarieta, USJ-R Intern/BRP (FREEMAN)