Mayor German Saraña of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental Tuesday offered to host anew the next batch of police personnel to undergo the Special Counter-insurgency Unit Training.

At the graduation rites of the PNP Scout Class 17-2008 Tuesday afternoon, the mayor said it was the honor and pleasure of the city to host the training of the 121 trainees at a 54-hectare government lot in Barangay Banga, Bayawan.

Saraña said the city was at a quandary sometime last November when it received simultaneous requests from the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army to host their respective trainings.

The mayor said he suggested to both organizations that if they “live side by side and conduct your trainings side by side,” it would not be a problem to him.

However, at the last minute, the Philippine Army said it would find another venue for their training, most likely because of the limited training grounds that could pose a conflict among the trainees.

But the mayor said his city is open to any requests for similar trainings, as it would add to the prevailing peace and order in Bayawan.

Saraña also said Bayawan is willing to again host the next batch of PNP SCOUT trainees from Region 7, expected to be held soon.

He also said the city is planning to increase the number of police auxiliaries this year, with about 50 more scheduled to undergo training soon.

These will complement the present 140 police auxiliaries in Bayawan who act as force multipliers to the regular police force, he said. He also said there is a need to increase the number of police auxiliaries in Bayawan as it is 20 times the size of Dumaguete, the capital city of Negros Oriental.

Saraña assured that the police auxiliaries, who are equipped with firearms, will be under the supervision of the regular PNP personnel.

He assured that the police auxiliaries should not be utilized during election time and for other purposes than peacekeeping, and stressed the importance of peace and order for a community to progress.

In the last 20 years, he said, there had been no armed conflict in Bayawan City and even insurgents are using it as an R and R (rest and relaxation) area.

Saraña added that there has to be peace and order in Bayawan “to maintain the kind of tranquility that we have right now so we can focus on other concerns, such as the environment.”*JFP

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