West Mindanao police hit big in anti-crime drive
MEMBERS of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-9 have been cited by the Philippine National Police (PNP) lheaded by General Rommel Francisco Marbil for scoring major gains in their anti-criminality drive.
Headed by Brigadier Gen. Roel Rodolfo, the PRO-9 is the main PNP unit tasked to enforce the law and keep peace and order in the Zamboanga peninsula.
Brig. Gen. Rodolfo has reaffirmed the PRO9’s commitment to enhancing public safety and combating crime in Western Mindanao by strengthening their operational capabilities and internal accountability.
One of his first moves when he assumed the top PRO-9 post was the deployment of 150 additional policemen to Zamboanga City to help boost police presence.
He said the presence of additional policemen is aimed at improving citizen safety and addressing existing communication and mobility challenges faced by officers responding to incidents within their areas of responsibility.
“This policy reinforces the responsibility of commanders to actively supervise, coordinate and monitor the performance of their subordinates and all units operating within their area,” Brig. Gen. Rodolfo said.
The official has underscored his LIGTAS program. LIGTAS means Labanan ang kriminalidad ng mga paninindigan; I for Ingatan and integridad: G for Gawin ang serbisyo ng naaayon sa kagustuhan ng Panginoon; T for Tugunan ng mabilisan at may paggalang ang hinaing ng taong bayan; A for Alagaan ang inyong kasamahan upang hindi maligaw ng landas at laging magtulungan bilang magkakapatid sa serbisyo and S for Sama-samang magbigay ng serbisyong makatotohanan.
Under his leadership, the PRO-9 last January registered a notable decline in all major crimes in the region and scored big in the campaign against illegal drugs, wanted persons, loose firearms and other criminality since then.
This month, PRO-9 operatives have captured some of the most wanted persons in the region including Alejandro Asunan who is facing a non-bailable rape case;
Edison Alcoba, a rape suspect in Zamboanga Sibugay; Saldy Baidballoso, the 8th most wanted man in Region 9 who was arrested on the strength of a non-bailable warrant for murder in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur; Romeo Beloy, another murder suspect in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur; and Oseph Lumaad, also wanted for murder in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur.
Last February 8, PRO-9 agents, with the assistance of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Regional Intelligence Unit 9, arrested a drug suspect n Zamboanga City after he sold nearly P400,000 worth of shabu to an undercover officer in Sitio Asinan, Brgy. Kasanyangan.
Another anti-drug operation in Brgy. New Labangan in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur last Feb. 11 saw the PRO-9 and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group accounting for 50 grams of shabu valued at P340,000.
Arrested during the sting was a top target of the regional police force.
PRO-9 operatives last February 10 also rescued 14 human trafficking victims and arrested two of their traffickers during an operation in Brgy. Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City.
Brig. Gen. Rodolfo said he has also ordered a massive anti-smuggling campaign in the region and has warned any of his men they will be immediately relieved and placed under investigation if they will be found acting in cahoots with smugglers of cigarettes and other contrabands.
Last Feb. 10, Zamboanga Sibugay policemen seized an estimated P115,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes in Purok Malunggay, Brgy. Tigbanuang, Tungawan municipality.
Brig. Gen. Rodolfo said their intensified presence also has prevented or solved crimes in the region immediately.
He cited an incident in Brgy. Nanan in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay last Feb. 11 where a 54-year-old farmer was shot and seriously wounded by motorcycle-riding gunmen.
Brig. Gen. Rodolfo said that a hot pursuit launched by the police resulted in the capture of three suspects in the gun attack led by a ‘kagawad’ from Brgy. Palinta, Kabasalan.
Recovered from the possession of the ‘kagawad’ was one caliber .45 pistol with a magazine containing six live ammunition while another suspect yielded a hand grenade.
All three suspects are now facing criminal charges including frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives in relation to the Comelec-imposed nationwide gun ban.
