PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has ordered all 17 police regional directors to ensure that appropriate security is provided to local government officials who are receiving direct or indirect death threats amid the spate of attacks on politicians since February 17 which have left nine dead.

After presiding over the turnover of command at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday, the top cop said he has instructed new NCRPO director, Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo and all other 16 police regional directors to conduct a threat assessment on local government officials and other politicians in their areas in order to find out if they need to be provided with enough security escorts or not.

“We want to know if these government officials have perceived enemies in their areas, who are either active or lying low, so that we can inform them if they need to beef up their security,” Azurin said after installing Okubo as the new Metro Manila police director vice Maj. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo, who was promoted as the new PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, a position that will earn the latter his third star.

At present, elected officials are allowed to have a maximum of two authorized bodyguards from the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) who may secure them in any part of the country.

However, Azurin said local police territorial units must also provide uniformed security to public officials since it would be their responsibility too in case something bad happens to the officials in their jurisdiction.

However, more than two PSPG security personnel and others from private security agencies may also be allowed to secure a public official whose life is in real danger.

Around 9:25 p.m. last Wednesday, a motorcycle-riding gunman fired shots at the van bearing Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Montawal hitting the latter in the hip and left arm.

The victim who survived the gun attack was in Manila to attend the general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines held at the Manila Hotel this week.

Last February 17, gunmen ambushed the convoy of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. in Kalilangan, Bukidnon, injuring the official and his aide Ali Tabao and killing his three policemen-escorts identified as Staff Sergeant Mohammad Adiong and Corporals Johanie Sumandar and Jalil Cosain. One suspect in the ambush has been killed in a shootout with pursuing policemen.

Two days later, armed men wearing Army uniform shot and killed Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and five of his companions in Bagabag, Nueva Viscaya.

The killers’ getaway, a white Mitsubishi Adventure fitted with the government plate SFN-713, was burned by the killers in Bgy. Uddiawan in nearby Solano town.

Those attacks prompted Azurin to call on politicians to report threats to their lives. “Our appeal to our political leaders is, if they sense threats, they should not keep it to themselves,” he said.

The PNP chief said reporting is necessary so that police can validate the threat and thwart it by all means.

Following the top cop’s instruction, Okubo instructed all his five district directors to fully comply with the directive.

Azurin said there is no indication that there was a pattern in the three gun attacks which targeted elected public officials although they did not happen in the same area and at the same time.

“We want to check if there are mayors who are facing threats, but they are not just talking about it in public,” said Okubo, the erstwhile director of the PNP Special Action Force. He was replaced by former Police Regional Office 5 director in Bicol region, Brigadier Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas.

NCRPO welcomes Okubo

The entire Metro Manila police force welcomed the designation of Okubo as the new NCRPO director, vice Maj. Gen. Estomo. The two officials were congratulated by Azurin for a job well done during their six-month stint at the NCRPO and the PNP-SAF, respectively.

Estomo shared his gratitude to his men and women as he asked them to give Okubo the same support they have given him. He also expressed confidence that Okubo will be able to take NCRPO to greater heights of accomplishments as he takes on the challenge to continue the fight against all forms of criminality, illegal drugs and terrorism in Metro Manila.

Okubo, a member of PNP Academy “Tagapagtaguyod” Class of 1992, became the 1st PNPA graduate to become an NCRPO director.

He challenged his men to continue their programs now centered on revitalizing the “Pulis sa Barangay” deployment anchored on Azurin’s KASIMBAYANAN (Kapulisan, Simbahan at Pamayanan) program and giving emphasis on the marginalized residents in the community who were used to be neglected and denied of government services.

“By this, peace and order will be a shared responsibility and effort of both the community and the police once a trust and confidence is built through a better mutual relationship,” said the official who vowed a more aggressive fight against rogues in uniform and illegal drugs in the metropolis.