BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The protracted threat of the New People’s Army in Cagayan Valley region will not be a hindrance to the Philippine National Police in stepping up its drive against illegal drugs in the region, the new regional police director said Sunday.
“The recent atrocities of the NPA in various military and police establishments will not affect our resolve and campaign against illegal drugs in the region,” Police Chief Supt. Robert Quenery, a native of this town, said.
Quenery recently paid a courtesy call to Governor Carlos Padilla here and met with the officers and policemen of the Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office at Camp Saturnino Dumlao here.
He said they have beefed up their security operations and widened their intelligence gathering and network to address the insurgency problem in the region.
Quenery said the recent attacks of the NPA have not dampened their intensified campaign on illegal drugs in Cagayan Valley even.
“We have our priorities such as anti-illegal drugs campaign, graft and corruption and maintenance of peace and order as ordered by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he said.
Quenery said the PNP in the region is right on track on the implementation of the Operation Tokhang Reloaded in the region.
The PNP regional chief said that he will review the implementation of the regional police’s priority programs, projects and activities to further improve and enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out peace and order programs.
Policemen in the region have been in their camouflage uniforms following the issuance of alert status of PNP higher officials after a series of insurgency activities against military and police personnel in Cagayan Valley.
“We are now also active in our internal security operations to prevent the communist in staging another blow to our government,” Quenery said.
He also admitted that the recent peace process between the government and the NPA’s political arm -National Democratic Front has been irresponsibly used in strengthening the NPA’s resources and mobilization activities.