Province on red alert over rumorsof rebels

The Cebu Provincial Police Office has placed the entire Cebu Province under full red alert status after the police received reports of alleged sightings of suspected New People’s Army rebels in the midnorth.

CPPO director Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria told reporters yesterday that he placed the police force under full alert status to prepare for any possible attack the NPA may launch these coming days.

Valmoria said there are persistent reports of sightings of strangers and armed men in the said area.

Bantayan and Camotes islands were also placed under heightened alert.

Because of this development the CPPO is sending an augmentation force to the midnorth from the Special Reaction Unit and the Regional Mobile Group to verify the information.

 The police have also informed the Central Command of the sightings and proper coordination has been made between the two camps.

 According to CentCom spokesman Col. Jefferson Omandam, the NPAs in the midnorth have lost the support of the populace especially from previously influenced areas.

 The PNP is now preparing for the upcoming Annual General Inspections this August wherein several inspections are to be conducted by National Police Commission Officials, PNP and even the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Valmoria is urging the public to be more vigilant and cooperate with the police and report strangers in their areas so that the police can check on them.— Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP