BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
SIQUIJOR, April 25 (PIA)—The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have assured Siquijodnons of their support to peace, security, and development during the Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting held Wednesday at the SP, Session Hall, Capitol Building, Siquijor, Siquijor.
AFP’s 302nd Brigade Commander Brigadier Gen. Francisco Patrimonio said that Siquijor has remained insurgency-free since it was first declared six years ago but they are here to always lend their presence to ensure that rebel forces will not set foot in the island.
He said rebels may come to Siquijor not to encroach in the island but to rest and seek refuge.
"And if they will, the military will come and they can no longer rest," he said.
Patrimonio said their first line of defense against possible encroachment is to continue with the information drive in coordination with the PNP and the reservists, strengthen Barangay information networks and other activities concerning peace, security, and development.
He even assured Siquijor of their support to other activities like medical mission, disaster reponse, or even in local and national elections and other activities that need their presence.
"We are here to support in the development and give protection," he said.
Supporting Patrimonio’s statement, Police Regional Office-7 Regional Director PCSupt Danilo Constantino also assured to strengthen police operations in the province.
Patrimonio said that since Siquijor has no problem on insurgency, their primary concern is on criminality or the number of crimes committed everyday and how the police respond to each crime incidents.
This, he said, is the PNP’s thrust which could not be strengthened with the filing of cases alone but the combination of three: filing of cases, arrest of suspects, and promulgation of suspects.
“We should not stop on the filing of cases against perpetrators or suspects, we should continue our operation and see to it the they are convicted,” he said.
The police official called on the police to religiously attend to court hearings especially on cases related to illegal drugs which reportedly have started to proliferate in the province.
Patrimonio also vowed to pursue the province’s tourist police operation by providing tourist police with shirts, headgear, and other support needed.
He also announced the distribution of 39 Glock 17 pistols to the PNP personnel as part of the third tranche of distribution.
Fourth and Fifth tranches are still coming, he said, while assuring PNP personnel of the proficiency firearms training and all the support pertaining to peace and order.
“We are committed to provide support to our police and to the entire province of Siuqijor,” he added. (rmn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor)