Anti-insurgency operations in Negros Oriental boosted

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 3): Anti-insurgency operations in Negros Oriental boosted

The Police Regional Office 7 is starting to pour in more combat-trained troops to Negros Oriental to beef up its anti-insurgency operations in the province.

PRO-7 director, Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, announced the deployment of one platoon from the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 during the regular flag-raising activity of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office at Camp Fernandez in Sibulan town, yesterday.

He said in an interview that the move is just the first step towards securing the province from the threat posed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army.

“That is only initial to augment Guihulngan (police force) in response to the clamor of the local executive and residents” of that northern Negros Oriental city, he said.

He cited the ambush allegedly perpetrated by the communist rebels in Guihulngan in July where the police chief and five of his men were killed, while three other police personnel and a civilian were wounded.

Espino said that in the coming days, the PRO-7 would be creating a task force to solely address the insurgency problem in Negros Oriental.

This would be headed by PRO-7 deputy director for Operations, Senior Supt. Dennis Agustin, he added.

Also, the PRO-7 will beef up the Public Safety Battalion and the Public Safety Company to further strengthen the PNP's internal security operations, he added.

Espino said yesterday's command conference with the Negros Oriental PNP, headed by acting provincial director, Senior Supt. Edwin Portento, helped the PRO-7 in determining the strength, equipment and capabilities of the anti-insurgency troops in the province.

“Kung ano man ang kulang, pupunuan natin. (Whatever is lacking, we will provide)”, he added.

It was Espino's first visit to the NORPPO as he assumed command of the latter as PRO-7 regional director, following the abolition of the Negros Island Region, which took effect September 30.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/October/03/negor1.htm