Monitor and report new faces in your areas, Army urges village chiefs
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 4 (PIA) -- Be on the lookout for new faces in your barangays.
The Philippine Army-commanding officer 302nd Infantry Brigade, Negros Oriental Col. Manuel Ochotorena, advised local village chiefs following reports that some members of the insurgent group here have fled the mountains to seek refuge in urban communities.
As the government's armed troops intensify operations to crush the rebel movement in the hintertlands, the possibility of some of these insurgents mingling in urban localities to sow terror is very possible, according to Ochotorena.
“Once we start pushing them against the wall, their tendency is to resort to desperate measures and start killing people in the lowlands to sow terror. That is how they always start, scare the people and coerce them to cooperate or join their cause,” he stated.
Stressing the important role played by barangay officials in efforts to maintain peace and order, Ochotorena urged them to be on the lookout for new faces in their areas.
“If you notice a new face in your barangay, be curious about them and find out who they are, why they are there, their background, connections and for how long are they staying there,” said Ochotorena.
He appealed to village chiefs and the mayors as well to take an active role in the government's campaign against insurgency. “Don't think that this is just the job of the police or the Army, because once these people start to sow terror here, it is your communities that will be affected,” he stressed.
Communist forces in the hinterlands are now declining in number after government troops arrested several high-ranking officials from the rebel group here, leaving a leadership vacuum within the communist movement.
“Now, they are dwindling in terms of strength, especially in the Sta. Catalina area,” he said.
It can also be recalled that seven communist rebels surrendered to government forces in the last quarter of last year. (PIA-NegOr/RMN)