More cops to Iloilo-Capiz areas mulled

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - Deployment of police personnel of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion to some strategic places bounding Iloilo and Capiz provinces are being studied in response to rising rebel activities in these areas.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr., director of the Police Regional Office-6, said part of the plan was to beef up the current police complement of Passi City Police and other police stations situated near the boundary of Iloilo and Capiz.

Querol said he coordinated with Major Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division, for these proactive operations involving combat operations in areas where NPA rebels are known to be operating.

But how prepared police units are in their internal security operations (ISO)? Querol has the other day inspected these units, particularly in areas with reported sightings of rebels.

His first stop was the Iloilo Provincial Public Safety Company based in Monfort North of Dumangas, Iloilo where he found only five on duty and two vehicles that have not been serviceable for a year.

Querol then proceeded to the police stations of Mina and Janiuay towns in Iloilo. Later he went to the 3rd and 4th Manuever Platoons at Camp Tirador in Brgy. Jibolo of Janiuay where he found them well manned and vehicles in good running condition.

He reminded policemen to avoid small unit deployments. "At least, there should be at least three teams on duty, especially with the prevalent situation concerning our ISO," he said, adding that the police now are joining the military in the anti-insurgency campaign.

Querol later ordered the recall of all policemen assigned to secure VIPs (very important persons) but with no proper authority. Some reports stated that many policemen were pulled out from their assigned police units, sans official orders, to act as security details of politicians. — THE FREEMAN