Police, military join forces vs insurgents

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) and the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army have joined forces in running after the insurgents in the 3rd District of Negros Occidental.

Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, 303rd IB commander, said the joint efforts with the NOPPO were expected to address the recent extortion activities in E. B. Magalona town allegedly perpetuated by the New People’s Army.

Last June 14, a group of 20 suspected rebels burned a farm tractor at Hacienda Teresa in Brgy. Alicante of E. B. Magalona reportedly due to the failure or refusal of its owner to pay revolutionary taxes, Patrimonio said.

Last May 31, suspected rebels also burned two farm tractors at Brgy. San Isidro, also in E.B. Magalona, because its owner also did not agree with the extortion demands of the NPA, he added.

Because of these incidents, E. B. Magalona Mayor David Albert Lacson has requested for an Army detachment to be put up in his town.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan of the NOPPO said plans are now underway in reactivating the detachment in Brgy. San Isidro of E. B. Magalona.

In a chance interview when he made a courtesy call on Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. Monday, Patrimonio said he and Guisihan agreed that the NOPPO will fully utilize its forces in the 3rd district against the insurgents in the area.

He clarified though that the joint efforts do not mean that the ISO in the 3rd District was taken over by the PNP. “It’s just because they have deployed more forces in the area,” Patrimonio said.

Meanwhile, Guisihan confirmed the relief of Senior Inspector Norberto Barniso as chief of police of E. B. Magalona, effective yesterday, for his apparent failure to intercept the burning of tractors allegedly by the NPA rebels in the said haciendas. Barniso was recalled to the NOPPO Headquarters and was replaced by his deputy, SPO4 Leonardo Cobing.

Guisihan has also designated Chief Inspector Samuel Mina, former E.B. Magalona police chief, to head the task force that will oversee the PNP ISO operations in the area. He said that assignment of Mina is expected to prevent the recurrence of the atrocities perpetuated by the NPA rebels in the area.

Guisihan also called on the sugar planters, especially in E. B Magalona, not to give in to the demands and extortion activities of the NPA rebels. – THE FREEMAN