AFP-CentCom assures Region 8 of security from rebels

CEBU, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command yesterday assured Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) of being safe and secured from communist insurgency, in the wake of the "misencounter" between the military and the police in Samar on Monday, which left six policemen dead and nine others wounded.

AFP-CentCom spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar discounted possibilities that rebel groups may see the incident as an opportunity to strike against law enforcement agencies.

“Wala naman itong implications sa security, on-going ang internal security preparations the mechanism is still there on how to counter insurgencies,” Aguilar said.

He confirmed yesterday, that there have been reports of sightings of rebel groups around Samar, but chose to remain mum about the issue so as not hamper operations.

He said though that the public should not be alarmed as enough forces are in place around the areas concerned. “Samar is still safe and any insurgencies will not happen,” he said.

He said that based AFP protocols a firefight will not ensue based only on sightings. “Definitely there is a mechanism that we adhere to when pursuing rebels, In this particular incident we don’t know yet.“

The misencounter however will not stain the relationship of the two government law enforcement agencies, he said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde earlier announced in a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City that a Special Board of Inquiry has been created to probe the “deadly incident.”

Aguilar reiterated that this is an opportunity to learn the gaps that may have led to the incident, and on how to address these from repeating in the future. “We accept na meron talagang di magandang nangyari. We look at what happen sa gaps and put the necessary actions to correct the mistakes,” he said.

Further investigation is needed before giving any conclusive statements as to who is at fault on the incident, he added.