Abra's Tineg town no longer a haven of PAGs

The town of Tineg in Abra is no longer a haven of private armed groups (PAGs) and criminals.

Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin, Cordillera police director, said PAGs and criminals left Tineg in haste following the setting up of the Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC) in Barangay Alaoa-Tapayen to establish government presence in the town.

Before the 2007 elections, there were at least nine PAGs operating in Abra, especially in Tineg, Martin said. But not anymore, as 80 policemen now patrol the town daily.

Martin said the PAGs and criminals have sought refuge in other parts of Luzon and police are now hunting them down as they face various cases in court, including murder.

No less than Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa led government officials in inaugurating the COMPAC last month. Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin and lone Rep. Cecilia Luna assisted him.

In a dialogue with Verzosa, a former Cordillera police director himself, the townsfolk expressed hope that political killings in their town would now stop with the setting up of COMPAC.

The residents used to keep mum on crimes than report them to the municipal satellite office in the capital town of Bangued.

“The town is located in the mountainous part of the province. There is no feeder road and the town could only be reached by several hours of hiking. The victims would rather keep the incidents to themselves, afraid that they would be ambushed by their enemies (if they would go) to Bangued to report these,” Martin said.

With the police outpost in their midst, Martin said the residents can now report crimes easily.

It was Martin who initiated the release of P500,000 to construct the outpost which took several months through the “self-help” program of barangay chairmen.

“Each barangay chairman sent several men to work for free. They were all eager to establish the presence of the government in their town that they wasted no time in finishing work on the building,” Martin said.

Verzosa also shelled out P50,000 to build a chapel near the police outpost, which the residents, who are Catholics, had asked for.

Tineg used to be the only town in Abra where not a single church existed.

To be constructed also on “self-help” basis, the church would be christened the Church of Immaculate Conception in honor of the feast day of the Blessed Virgin, which coincided with Verzosa’s visit.