ILOILO – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) advised contractors of government projects in the hinterlands to inform them of their operations for protection.
Provincial Board member Matt Palabrica informed Police Colonel Roland Vilela, IPPO director, that one contractor he did not name sought his office’s help against the New People’s Army (NPA).
“The contractor asked for assistance. They want to stop paying revolutionary tax,” Palabrica said.
On Sept. 11, suspected members of the NPA torched two transit mixers and one backhoe at a concrete batching plant of Wilkinson Construction in Barangay Igcocolo, Guimbal town.
Wilkinson Construction undertakes government road projects in the 1st District of the province.
“Do contractors report to police stations that they have projects in certain municipalities? On the part of the mayors or local chief executives, they don’t know who are the contractors operating in their areas. When problems arise, that’s the time they will go to local leaders and ask for help,” Palabrica said.
He added: “Most of the time” local leaders do not know if private companies give in to the extortion demands of the terrorist group.”
Vilela advised contractors to inform local chiefs of police of their road projects, especially in the mountains.
When he was assigned to the Police Regional Office 2 (Cagayan Valley), Vilela said that as directed by their commander, the police support and cover construction companies operating in the hinterlands.
“We have personnel from our mobile group to help with this development,” he said.
Provincial Board members also asked updates from the IPPO top cop on the issue of Iloilo mayors who allegedly acceded to the rebels’ “permit to campaign scheme during the May 2019 elections.
Vilela refused to drop names but assured the Provincial Board members IPPO would provide security to local officials.
He said the names of those who aided the rebels are being validated. (PNA)
