Army official defends call to intensify
legal offensive campaign against NPA
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Army Col. Oscar Lactao, commander of the 303 rd Infantry Brigade, yesterday brushed aside criticisms against his call to strengthen legal offensives against leaders of the New People's Army in Negros, and said that those who are afraid may be hiding something from authorities.

Human rights group Karapatan-Negros had earlier slammed Lactao for his order to strengthen legal offensives against NPA key personalities in Negros Occidental, and those they call members of “legal progressive organizations.”

Fred Caña, secretary general of Karapatan, called Lactao a dictator for allegedly ordering his contacts in the Prosecutor's Office and the PNP to file non-bailable charges against “innocent people”.

‘CSC confirmation on PNP
promotions unnecessary'

The attestation by the Civil Service Commission on the appointment and promotion of members of the Philippine National Police, that is also being required by the National Police Commission, is described by some police officers as “unduly unnecessary”.

The clamor from the PNP officers is being taken up by House Bill 3351, sponsored by former police general-turned Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, that seeks an amendment to Section 31 and 96 of Republic Act 6975, by removing the requirement of attestation from CSC, to expedite government transactions and reduce bureaucratic red tape and processing time for appointment of police personnel.

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