Police, military remain vigilant amid SOMO

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — Policemen and soldiers deployed in Iloilo province remained vigilant amid the government’s unilateral suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO).

Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, Iloilo Provincial Police director, said he has been reminding policemen around the province to be prepared for any eventuality.

“We are on defensive mode yet we would not let our guards down, in case there’s an attack on our troops and other vital installations,” he said.

Augmentation troops from the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion were already deployed to high-risk areas as part of the preparedness measure, said Lebin.

The places where the New People’s Army has been maintaining influence are the towns of Calinog, Lemery, San Rafael, Lambunao, Bingawan, Tubungan, Igbaras, Leon and Alimodian, and the city of Passi.

So far, no atrocity by the rebels was recorded in Iloilo during the 43rd anniversary day of the Communist Party of the Philippines last December 26.

Meanwhile, Captain Reylan Java, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division, said military troops of the islands of Panay and Negros were also ordered to be on alert, despite their defensive posture.

“We would stand by the government’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire,” Java said, in deference to an earlier declaration of an 18-day truce with the rebels that took effect from December 16 through January 2, 2012.

The truce declared by the rebels, however, was shorter than that of the government as it would only be in effect from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 and then from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2.

The AFP declared a SOMO “in observance of the Yuletide Season and as a demonstration of the armed forces’ commitment, sincerity and support to the primacy of the peace process.” (FREEMAN)