Higher police visibility in Dagupan churches assured
POLICE presence and visibility around churches and chapels celebrating masses in Dagupan City have been increased in a bid to deter a repeat of the killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo inside a chapel in Nueva Ecija on June 10.
Dagupan City police chief, P/Superintendent Jandale Sulit, said he had discussed the arrangements addressing the security concerns of priests in Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese with Archbishop Socrates Villegas on June 12.
Sulit said Villegas confirmed that while there are priests in Dagupan receiving death threats, he welcomed the move to increase police visibility around churches and chapels.
He said ‘Oplan Bathala’ will continue every Sunday, deploying policemen during scheduled masses in Dagupan.
Sulit said Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, police director of Region 1, attempted to discuss security concerns of priests in region but Villegas was not around.
He said Sapitula will return to attempt another meeting with Villegas.
“We cannot afford to neglect them. They are our VIPs,” Sulit said.
“We do not want a repeat in Dagupan about what happened in another area,” he said. “With or without masses, our patrolling will be constant,” he added. (Eva Visperas)
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