As Philippine army troops pull out, NOrPPO braces for bigger responsibility

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office declared its readiness to undertake an expanded law enforcement role, as a result of the pull out plan of the 302nd Infantry Brigade from this province and deployed to Bohol, this week.

NOrPPO officer-in-charge director, Senior Superintendent Dionard Carlos, said on Friday that, after the brigade pull out, the police under his command will have a larger coverage area in law enforcement.

Carlos, however, assured the public there will be no vacuum left in the internal security operations, because the 79th Infantry Battalion and the 11th Infantry Battalion will continue to remain in Negros Oriental, but will be under the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in this province, headed by Colonel Francisco Delfin.

The 79th IB, based in Siaton town, will transfer its main camp to Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City, while its Siaton camp will be used as an advance command post of the military.

This was disclosed by 79th IB commander, Lieutenant Colonel Harold Anthony Pascua whose unit will be in charge of southern Negros Oriental.

The 11th IB, for its part, will remain at McKinley in Guihulngan City to cover central Negros, while the 62nd IB will take charge of northern Negros under the Negros Island Region.

Aside from the three IBs and one brigade, the NIR (Region 18) will have two CAFGU companies: the Alfa Company deployed in Negros Oriental and the Delta Company deployed in Negros Occidental.—Judy Flores Partlow and Juancho R. Gallarde (FREEMAN)