PNP-8 deploys 2 platoons of policement to Samar

(This news item appeared in the July 7, 2009 edtion of the Leyte Samar Daily Express)

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte — Noting a significant increase of killing incidents and proliferation of loose firearms at the first congressional district in Samar particularly in Calbayog City and Gandara town areas, the PNP regional office here has deployed two platoons of police troops taken from the Police Regional Mobile Group (PRMG) that will help augment the PNP forces in Samar province to immediately stop the criminalities in the said area.

Senior Supt. Rolando Magno, chief of the PRO-8 Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) and the same time officer in-charge of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, said the additional deployment of troops was a matter of courtesy of the PNP regional headquarters to Samar PNP provincial office to ensure that this threat to peace and order will be contained, while synchronized local and national elections is fast approaching, as based on records these areas were previously considered as Commission on Elections (COMELEC) immediate area of concern because of election-related violence.

However, this recent move of the present leadership of PNP director Chief Supt. Mario Sandiego is part of the contingency measures in maintaining peace and order, as according to Magno they are still on the process of investigation to find out the real motive of the crime incidents in the Calbayog and Gandara areas.

“No, we cannot yet say that it is a politically motivated incidents of crime, we also have to consider other factor, unless lumabas sa imbistigasyon then we’ll take another separate actions,” Magno said.

He further revealed that in fact the PNP has been intensifying its drive against loose firearms not only in Samar but at the entire region, that is one to deter any proliferation and transporting unlicensed firearms all over Eastern Visayas region.

According to records, the PNP in this region for the past two quarters of this year has successfully seized at least 39 loose firearms from their series of operations in the campaign against loose firearms.

Seventeen killings was recorded involving civilians and some are barangay officials, yet the real motive of those incidents is yet to be known.

Earlier other top official of PRO-8 said that they are still studying and assessing these series of killing incidents in preparation to their future recommendation whether Calbayog ang Gandara are again among of the hot spot areas in the region in coming elections.

“Not yet.. we are still in the process of monitoring, sa galaw nga loose firearms, criminal groups and armed groups, anyway as now not so much threats but we have to just very alert regarding this matter,” Senior Supt Gil Hitosis, deputy regional director for operations, said.

Mobile patrol, police visibility and random check-point have been raised by the PNP force in Samar, as part of their preventive measures of the reported criminalities happening in the said areas. (MIRIAM GARCIA DESACADA)