AN ALERT has been raised in Region 1 by the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) over reports that some criminal/terrorist groups from Mindanao have sought haven in Northern Luzon to escape the police and military dragnet targeting them.

Intelligence reports bared during the RPOC first-quarter meeting indicated that around 75 Muslim extremist fighters belonging to Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have migrated to Ilocos provinces.

This has prompted the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies in Region 1 to work out offensive plans to track them down.

The RPOC is hopeful that the expected resumption of peace talks, the government and New Peoples Army will unite to counter activities of BIFF in the region.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, RPOC chair, commended the Police Regional Office 1 for the arrest of the co-founder and two members of the Parujinog/Kuratong Baleleng group who moved out of Ozamis City to evade arrest.

In another development, the RPOC noted the delay in validating drug-cleared towns and cities in the region.

Marcos said the undermanned Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has only managed to validate from 53 percent to 65 percent of towns and cities already declared drug free by local governments and PNP.

She said the situation is giving the impression that it is the local governments that are slow to comply with established requirements for PDEA to confirm towns and cities as drug–free.

She asked council members to help augment PDEA’s personnel in order to accomplish targets of provincial governments in declaring their communities as drug-free. (Nora Dominguez)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments