By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

According to Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, Police Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, beyond heightened security during yesterday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) are imminent, prompting police across the region to go on “full alert status.”
He pointed out last month’s raid on the Maasin Municipal Police Station, along with last week’s ambush in Negros Oriental, where six police officers were killed.
Gorero noted, police units in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo were all given the order.
In regards to protests that took place during President Rodrigo Duterte’s SONA, police reported no major violence.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) issued a statement condemning the attacks in Guihulngan City.
In a message by PRO-18 spokesperson, Police Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, she called the actions by the NPA “barbaric.”
Vargas said the NPA killed innocent individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice in order for others to live.
The spokesperson also confirmed PRO-18 is currently investigating the ambush.
In an exclusive report by RMN-DYHB Bacolod, four men, believed to be NPA informants, were seen scouring the city during the time of the ambush.
The report also revealed the ambush of Guihulngan City Councilor Edison Dela Rita was conducted in order to draw out police officers.
Vargas added, intelligence reports show the NPA had been planning an attack on the Guihulngan City Police Station./WDJ