Almost 100 community members from Barangay Hilamonan in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, attended the Community Awareness on Peace and Law Enforcement Development Support (CPLEDS) on Thursday, April 16, with various government organizations leading the symposium.
3rd Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Battalion executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chester Salamanca, discussed the New People’s Army (NPA) recruitment process and how its operations affect people’s daily activities.
“I thank you that you are here so that you will know how the NPA recruits, destroys properties, and kills civilians,” he said in Tagalog.
He said that the NPA has killed several innocent civilians, especially the killing of the 74-year-old Leonora Anguit in Barangay Tapi in Kabankalan City.
Police Chief Master Sergeant Mary June Fuentes of the Kabankalan Component Police Station (KCPS) also spoke on drug and crime prevention, highlighting that these efforts contribute to the locality’s peace and security.
She also hoped that the barangay would be declared as ‘drug-cleared,’ clarifying that it means that the drugs, though not 100 percent eliminated, would be closely monitored and controlled.
“If you have a crime or peace problems, you can just dial on your phone: 911,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shared how the community should act during a fire call and how quickly fire can consume a house.
“Within five minutes, a fire can spread rapidly. Our current problem is that people choose to prioritize starting a Facebook Live stream before calling the fire station,” said Fire Officer Emanuel John Minayo, in Hiligaynon.
Other government agencies, such as the Revitalized Police sa Barangay (RPSB) under the Regional Mobile Force Company (RMFC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the City Agriculture Office (CAO), and the Office of the Mayor, represented by Dr. Joel Palata, were also present to provide services to attendees.*
