PRO-6 wary of NPA retaliatory attacks

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is strengthening its active defense stance in the wake of arrests of alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members in Bacolod City and Iloilo.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said they sent text messages instructing police stations and detachments to be wary of NPA attacks.

“They should maintain minimum defense security posture at all times,” she said.

The order indicated that a police station or detachment should maintain a duty guard, a tower guard (when applicable), an advance security post, and a Highway Police Assistance Desk or HI-PAD.

Over the weekend, Malong said a young woman went to Pototan Police Station to “book a complaint.”

While there was nothing wrong with booking complaints in the blotter, the woman resembled the person who also booked a complaint in Maasin town hours before the infamous NPA raid on Maasin Police Station on June 18, 2017.

“That could be an indication that there are persons who are monitoring the activities of our police stations,” Malong said.

The modus operandi, she added, has long been employed by the rebel group.

PRO-6 is still on full alert status in anticipation of NPA retaliatory attacks.

More than a week ago, authorities nabbed 42 persons, including 13 minors, at the KMU and Gabriela-Negros offices in Barangay Bata; NFSW office at Barangay 33; and a house at Barangay Taculing.

The raids were authorized by search warrants from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Quezon City.

A total of 32 firearms, three fragmentation grenades, two 40MM grenade launcher, and assorted live ammunition were confiscated in the raids.

On Nov. 10, a local leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested following a police search operation at Maasin, Iloilo.

Herman Alliza, 55, was arrested at his house in Bagangay Bolo for possessing a hand grenade.

There were reports that he yielded pistols but none was seized from his actual possession.

Alliza is believed to be an alleged team leader of Propaganda Organizing Team (POT) but now belongs to Lambat Paniktik under Baluy Platoon of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KRP)’s Central Front.