Be on alert!

That reminder from Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt, Ricardo de la Paz yesterday was addressed to policemen who are unarmed when they are off duty, after the assassination of a soldier by a suspected New People’s Army hit squad in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday.

PFC John Ilisan succumbed to gunshot wounds in the nape, left shoulder and back from shots fired by two suspected NPA hitmen at the public market of Sitio Cambugi-ot, Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City, at about 8 a.m. Monday.

Military and police records show that Ilisan is the second member of the Army’s Peace and Development Team killed in southern Negros since March this year.

De la Paz said policemen who are unarmed, should always be vigilant as it is not remote that aside from soldiers, some of them are also targets of the NPA. Policemen on duty should also secure their firearms against rebels or their supporters, who are into “agaw-armas (firearm-snatching)".

“We are reminding our personnel here to enhance their security alertness and never lower their guards,” De la Paz also said.

“The latest intelligence report show that there have been no more NPA or hit squad sightings in Bacolod but this should not mean that policemen, and even army men residing here should be complacent,” he said.

De la Paz noted that Bacolod City remains a rest and recreational place for the rebels and that there are legal front organizations here.*APN

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