Isabela PPOC reports gains on public safety, peace and order, counter insurgency

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 12): Isabela PPOC reports gains on public safety, peace and order, counter insurgency

Member-agencies of the Isabela Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) huddled today at the Balay, Provincial Capitol here for their third regular meeting to report their significant accomplishments on ensuring public safety, promoting peace and order, and countering  the threats of insurgency in the province.

Police Superintendent Manuel B. Bringas, Chief, Plans and Operations of the Isabela Police Provincial Office (IPPO), reported that the stringent implementation of Executive Order No. 18 issued by Isabela Provincial Governor Faustino G. Dy III has resulted in the confiscation of more unregistered motorcycles and apprehension of several minors and unlicensed drivers plying the national highways.

He said, on the first week of implementation of the executive order alone, a total of 1,954 motorcycles were apprehended through the establishment of choke and check points along the major thoroughfares in the province.

Enforced  jointly by  the Land Transportation Office-Isabela,  IPPO and the Liga ng mga Barangay,  E.O. 18 was issued on May 3, 2014 amidst reports by the local police and rescue groups which revealed that many of the drivers of motorcycles involved in road mishaps are under-aged or not in possession of valid driver’s license.

On the campaign against criminality, Isabela Police Provincial Director Sotero DG Ramos, Jr. shared that unrelenting local police operations and integrated patrol systems have caused the arrest of and filing of appropriate cases against  659 wanted persons in the province and region, and confiscation of 37 assorted firearms.

He said that in the desire of the police organization to make constituents safe in times of disasters, a memorandum has been issued by the IPPO directing all local police stations in the province to coordinate with the local disaster risk reduction and management councils the installation of signages and the deployment of law enforcers  to give warnings to the public not to cross over-flow bridges during heavy or widespread flooding.

On the other hand, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” and the national government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) have persuaded some members of the communist group to surrender and abandon the underground movement.

Colonel Reynaldo H. Labanen, Deputy Brigade Commander of the 502nd Brigade, Philippine Army in Gamu, Isabela, said the “bayanihan” employs the ‘whole of nation approach’ and ‘people-centered approach’ in addressing  the insurgency problems.

“Instead of taking military actions, the best solution to winning the peace is by increasing the involvement of all stakeholders,  to include the civil society organizations and communities,” he explained.

He added that the AFP has also came up with its Oplan “Lifeguard” that is aimed at conduction disaster relief and rescue operations to save lives, protect properties and minimize damages in disaster-affected areas in the province.

DILG Provincial Director Elpidio A. Durwin temporarily presided over the meeting, which mustered the attendance of local chief executives, heads and representatives of national government agencies and local media.

PD Durwin took the opportunity of thanking the Provincial Government of Isabela through the leadership of Provincial Governor Faustino G. Dy III for their  full support in the CLIP implementation.

He also reminded the LCEs to formulate and allocate budget for their local peace and order and public safety plan and provided them updates on the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=481412920481