By Tara Yap

Following the recent incident where police officers of the Maasin Municipal Police Station were disarmed and handcuffed by the New People’s Army (NPA), Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) spokesperson, Police Chief Inspector Aron Palomo, defended the law enforcement community claiming more public cooperation is necessary.
Despite warnings that suggested the NPA was targeting police stations in 15 towns across Iloilo province, he said Maasin police did not receive a phone call or text message prior to the attack.
“Ang obra sang kapulisan, hindi lang mag hulat sang NPA (The job of the police is not just to wait for the NPA),” he said, adding local residents likely spotted the truck, which carried between 40 and 50 NPA members, before it stopped in front of the police station.
“That is why we need the public’s cooperation,” he stated.
Meanwhile, IPPO said they will file robbery charges against the NPA rebels after they allegedly took government-issued firearms, ammunition, and personal belongings./WDJ