By
Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG
CITY - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be conducting
today and tomorrow an anti-terrorism training for elective officials in Ipil,
Zamboanga Sibugay, according to P/SSupt. James B. Mejia, police provincial
director of Zamboanga del Norte.
Mejia
said the training, which is dubbed “Terrorist Targets: Operationalizing the
whole nation,” will be conducted in the eight regions of the country including
region 9.
“This
is in compliance with the directives earlier issued by President Benigno Aquino
III, it being the priority concern of the regions in Mindanao, Cebu and
National Capital Region(NCR),” Mejia stressed.
Among
those invited to attend the training is Zamboanga del Norte Governor Roberto
Uy, Vice Governor Senen Angeles, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan(SP),
particularly Board Member Julius Napigquit who is the chair of SP’s committee
on police and peace and order together with his vice chair, Board Member Joven
Zamora, and Board Member Romulo Soliva.
Also
attending are city/municipal mayors of the different cities/municipalities in
the Zamboanga Peninsula as well as the PNP officials assigned in the region.
On
the first day of the training, there will be a ceremonial signing of the
manifesto to be administered by the technical experts from the Department of
National Defense (DND), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other law enforcement agencies.
It
can be recalled that the Zamboanga Peninsula region is confronted with all the
terrorist groups operating in the area like the Communist Party of
Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other Moro
rebels. (FPG/ATR/PIA9-Zambo. Nortewith reports from Editha Pagente-Tomong)