Ilocos PNP, Army sign anti-NPA accord

BY FREDDIE G. LAZARO

CAMP GEN. OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union – A memorandum of agreement was signed between Ilocos police and the army at Consuelo Hotel In Lingayen to strengthen partnership on campaign against insurgency in the southern part of Region 1, it was learned here.

Ilocos Region police director, Chief Supe.t Leopoldo Bataoil represented the police while Major General Juanito P. Gomez, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija represented the Philippine Army.

Bataoil said the MOA on joint internal security operation will intensify the campaign on internal security in the southern part of region one particularly the province of Pangasinan.

Pangasinan is under the jurisdiction of the army’s 7th Infantry Division in its anti-insurgency operations.

“This is a continuation of our joint flagship mission, ‘Bring home a comrade program’ against insurgency. With the exchange of information and partnership in operation we can surmount the problem,” said Bataoil.