Army, Police to put up joint action centers in Davao del Norte

DAVAO DEL NORTE, February 6 (PIA) - - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) stationed in Davao del Norte will put up action centers in strategic areas in the province.

Col. Harold Cabreros, commanding officer of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, said that the Joint AFP-PNP Action Center (JAPAC) will serve as a nerve center for collaborateive and joint actions and points of contact between and among their units to maintain peace in the province.

“This is good because it will strengthen our partnership with the PNP especially that we are helping each other in the law enforcement, which is the police’s main function and in our internal security,” Col. Cabreros added.

He added that the action center will immediately address complaints and reports from the people.

“The center will eventually prevent incursions and resurgence of the rebel group, address criminalities in the area and help develop the capability of the local government unit,” he said.

Cabreros revealed that the action center will also composed of the barangay peace keeping action team (BPATS) and the peace and development volunteers who are trained by the military.

He said that with PSSupt Samuel Gadingan, provincial director of the Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office (DNPPO), they will operationalize the action center before the Palarong Pambansa hosting of the province.

“We are hoping that by before May 3, which is the start of the Palarong Pambansa, we can put up the action centers in the ingress and egress of the province,” Cabreros said.

He disclosed that the action centers will be placed in Kapalong, San Isidro, Talaingod, Panabo City and Tagum City.

The plan was presented yesterday during the Provincial Peace and Order Council Meeting at the Girls Scout of the Philippines (GSP) Hall, Tagum City and was recommended to be endorsed to the local chief executives concerned. (PIA11, Michael Uy)