ILOILO CITY—The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is on high alert as the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is set to celebrate its 52nd founding anniversary on December 26.
“We have declared full alert status. We are on defensive status,” said IPPO Director Col. Gilbert Gorero.
“There should be enough cops manning all police stations,” Gorero told the Manila Bulletin.
Gorero said it is imperative that policemen in the 42 towns and component city of Passi should not let their guards down, following the NPA attack last week in Tubungan town. While the detonation of an explosive device did not harm any of the five cops onboard a police vehicle, it shattered a window.
The IPPO has identified Igbaras, Leon, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, and Tubungan in southern Iloilo as high-risk towns.
The high-risk towns in central Iloilo are Alimodian, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Maasin, and Lemery and San Rafael in the eastern and northern part of the province.
Gorero said more policemen will be deployed during the holiday season to augment the local governments in implementing health protocols against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).