Gatan orders more checkpoints
Unabated killings noted
The Ilocos police regional director has directed all units in the region to be more proactive in the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms.
Specifically, Chief Supt. Ramon Gatan has ordered provincial units particularly in Pangasinan, the setting up of more checkpoints, regular patrol of nightspots and conducts more intelligence operations on suspected criminal groups.
The new directives were issued in response to the call of Third District Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas for intensified police action amid the series of gun slaying of public officials in her jurisdiction.
At the same time, he told The PUNCH that while he acknowledges the high rate of killings, he said the police had solved a number of the cases as well.
Arenas wrote P/Sr. Supt. Percival Barba, Pangasinan police director, two weeks ago, copy furnished Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, expressing her alarm over the recent assassination of the principal of the San Julian Elementary School in Malasiqui, an ex- barangay captain of Lasip, Malasiqui, and barangay captain of Mestizo Norte, San Carlos City school and the economic officer ofCalasiao town.
She asked the police office to set up more police checkpoints and “other anti-criminal activities to curb the proliferation of unlicensed/loose firearms in my district”.
Arenas added that aside from the cases of murder, there has been an alarming rise in the incidence of cattle rustling, robbery, drug abuse and other crimes.
Last Sunday, Fr. Victor Embuido of Binmaley also raised the same concern over the unabated killings, citing the latest killing of 62-year old bank owner in San Carlos City who was shot dead after attending Mass.
Meanwhile, Gatan said the police are already verifying the firearms issued to security details or the bodyguards of politicians.
He stressed the importance of citizens’ reporting and good police intelligence to succeed in the campaign against loose firearms.#
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