Iloilo police units on alert to thwart rebel attacks

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has reiterated anew its instruction to lower units to be on guard against rebel attacks.

But nope, there are no reports pointing to possible attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA), said Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police chief.

“It pays to be vigilant. We should not let our guards down, since the NPAs are known for their treacherous moves,” he added.

Recently, two armed encounters happened between the NPA’s Baloy Platoon and members of the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion in Janiuay town.

The August 26 incident happened at Sitio Naguihot, Barangay Panuran.

Two days later, another clash occurred at Sitio Tinurian, Barangay Aglobong.

Lucas said there have been reports of presence of alleged NPA’s in the hinterland villages of Iloilo.

“But these are usual sightings. The latest of these were reported in the towns of Janiuay and Miag-ao,” he said.

Lucas believed that rebels chose to seek refuge in the hinterland villages of these towns because they could easily cross the boundary going to Antique province.

Aside from Janiuay and Miag-ao, also on alert are the towns of San Joaquin, Guimbal, Calinog, Lambunao, Igbaras, Leon, Tubungan, Maasin, Alimodian, San Enrique, San Rafael, and several towns in the fifth district of Iloilo.

“These are the towns which are deemed high risk as far as NPA attack is concerned,” he said.

Aside from the police stations, also on alert are members of the Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company and platoons.

Lucas said the conduct of simulation exercises in case rebels attack police stations are done regularly.

“There’s no room for complacency. We should be ready to defend ourselves against these local terrorists,” he said.

The last known skirmish between the rebels and the police in the province also happened in Janiuay town.

Unfortunately, the incident killed a police officer

Police Captain Efren Espanto, team leader of the Reconnaissance Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, sustained a single gunshot injury on his head during the encounter at Barangay Aglobong, a hinterland village some 25 kilometers away from Janiuay town proper in Iloilo, in an encounter on Feb. 12, 2020.