PRO-6 orders more cops to rebel-infested areas

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  – Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., director of the Police Regional Office-6, has ordered the deployment of more policemen to rebel-influenced areas in Western Visayas.

The deployment had to be effected despite the ceasefire order of the Communist Party of the Philippines to its armed wing, the New People’s Army, during the holidays, he said.

The CPP, in a statement released earlier, ordered all NPA commands and units across the country to stop attacks on police and military forces starting December 24 up to midnight of December 26 and on December 31 up to midnight of January 2, 2012.

Querol however noted that the CPP will also be celebrating its 43rd foundation anniversary on December 26, and he planned to consolidate forces of the public safety companies of provincial police offices and the local units for bigger deployment to NPA-infested areas.

The police official said PRO-6 would study the deployment plan of the Antique Police Provincial Office. “We would assess what the APPO Public Safety Company is doing to address the insurgency problem in the area,” he said.

PRO-6 would also re-assess the personnel composition of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion deployed to other parts of the region and if they could be sent to Antique, said Querol.

Querol cited the December 9 encounter between patrolling soldiers and suspected NPA members in San Remigio, Antique that resulted in the death of Cpl. Absalon Labitan, team leader of the 12th Cadre Battation of the 3rd Infantry Division, and two members of the CAFGU Active Auxiliaries. (FREEMAN)