Review camp defense plan vs NPA attacks, Eastern Visayas cops told

PALO, Leyte, Aug. 20 – The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here directed field commanders to review their camp defense plan to ensure that no police station in Eastern Visayas will be attacked by the New People’s Army (NPA).

PNP Region 8 Director, Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, asked provincial directors and chiefs of police to intensify their intelligence monitoring to prevent any attack.

“I instructed our provincial directors that there should be no repeat of attacks of police stations. The order is to look at camp defense plans and conduct regular security inspections,” Carlos said in his first briefing in the region Monday.

Carlos assumed the post as PNP regional chief on Aug. 10, replacing Chief Supt. Marielle Magaway who was relieved from his post, hours after some 50 armed rebels raided the police station of Lapinig, Northern Samar.

The official has been going around the region to check the police stations’ readiness for possible attacks.

“There are two strategies to prevent raids -- improve our systems and talk with the NPAs. I am reaching out to them that if they have issues, we can talk,” he added.

On Aug. 10, about 50 communist rebels launched a pre-dawn attack at the police station of Lapinig, Northern Samar. The attack injured two policemen while the rebels carted several firearms, laptops and communication devices. (SQM/PNA)