The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental approved Wednesday the P3.5 million peace and order fund, as Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. congratulated the Philippine Army on their accomplishments in the peace and development campaign in the province.

The peace and order fund forms part of the P59 million supplemental budget, approved by the SP during its regular session Wednesday, while the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting, presided over by Marañon, was also being held in Talisay City.

Military records show that 13 encounters had taken place in the hinterlands of Calatrava, Toboso and Escalante City in northern Negros, and Sipalay City in southern Negros, within the month of August.

“I hope we can solve the problem, the sooner the better,” Marañon told military and police officials during the PPOC meeting held at a restaurant in Talisay City, also attended by Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo, executive director of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the series of encounters, almost all of which were government-initiated, were products of their sustained security operations against the armed NPA, based also on the information relayed to them by civilians.

Lactao said they received more than 100 such reports from civilians about the presence of armed men in their areas last month.

Marañon said he also congratulated the Philippine Army for their accomplishments, after listening to their explanations.

Board Member Renato Gustilo, chairperson of the SP committee on Peace and Order, said the fund, being released at the discretion of Gov. Marañon, will be utilized for training, seminars and other peace and order-related activities of the Army and the Philippine National Police.

To address the shortage of policemen in Negros Occidental, Marañon suggested the tapping of barangay tanods in visibility operations of the police.

Police records show that the PNP needs 1,895 policemen in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City, to meet the standard ratio of one policeman per 500, At present, NOPPO has 700 police personnel.

Major General Emmanuel Bautista, 3rd Infantry Division commander, who attended the PPOC meeting, said that while he acknowledged the issues and grievances raised by the NPA, there are many ways to solve them, and “fighting is not one of them”.

Bautista also welcomed the decision of the rebels who chose to abandon the armed struggle, citing the recent surrender of 13 NPA members in Negros Occidental and three more in Negros Oriental.

He, however, expressed alarm over the recruitment of minors by the NPA.*GPB

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