PNP calls for stronger synergy in addressing insurgency

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 2): PNP calls for stronger synergy in addressing insurgency

A Philippine National Police official  called for stronger synergy  in addressing the insurgency problem in the country.

Police Director Manuel Barcena, the incoming PNP Executive Director on Communist  Insurgency,  made the call when he graced the flag raising ceremony of the Police Regional Office – Cordillera(PRO-Cor) at Camp Bado Dangwa  here on  Monday.

“Let us continue working for peace and strengthen our efforts to finally put conclusion to this conflict. Armed confrontation is not the solution to the conflict, rather it is synergized effort within and among the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and  local government units,” he said.

Barcena explained  that it is the AFP’s mandate to go after insurgents while  the PNP as a law enforcement agency,  leads  the legal offensive effort.

His  job  he said is  to supervise the filing of cases against Communist Party of the Philippines/New  People Army/ National Democratic Fund(CPP/NPA/NDF) members involved in an atrocity.

According to  Barcena,  the recent arrest of the  high ranking CPP leaders,  Benito and Wilma Tiamzon,  and others in Cebu and Rizal, show  that the  rule of law prevails.

‘It is now high time we keep focused on the law enforcement approach of the PNP and AFP in our legal battle”, Barcena said.

‘It is through the legal battle that we can constrict or limit their movement, especially leaders, since they cannot be arrested by merely identified as commanders or members of the communist group”, he added.

Meantime, in line with PNP’s goal of strengthening its personnel,  it will be hiring 20,000 new police recruits nationwide.

PRO-COR  is  allotted 249 slots,  and  the screening of police applicants started last Monday.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=61396323819