PRO8 taps 189 PNP scouts for election duties

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
October 2, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Stepping up security preparations for the October 28 barangay elections, the top official of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) has ordered new graduates of its specialized anti-insurgency course to render election duties and keep the polls as peaceful and fair as possible.

“With the coming elections, you will be enforcing election laws and render security duties. Expect to have a recollection of exercises you learned as the principles and techniques in responding to criminality, insurgency and other emergencies will be aptly applied in the performance of your job,” said PCSupt. Elmer R. Soria during Monday’s graduation of the Special Counter-Insurgency Operations Unit Training (SCOUT).

Exhorted the active role of the PNP in the anti-insurgency campaign, the PRO8 director also cautioned the new graduates to initiate personal security measures as they are also subjects of the enemy’s aggression.

“We mourned for our fallen comrades who lost their lives while performing their duties, be ready then at all times to handle and counter whatever possible harm the enemy might inflict against you and your team,” he added.

Last Saturday night, Insp. Alberto Ayad and POI July Pajanilla were ambushed by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists while conducting patrol operations in Arteche town in Eastern Samar. Another policeman was wounded in the attack.

“Our enemies do not fear us but they fear what we can become. They fear what we take for granted, our potential,” the police official also said.

With the training, Soria expects the new graduates to be ready, capable and competent in handling field works as frontliners in the PNP’s internal peace and security operations.

The 189 police personnel that have graduated PNP Scout Class 21-2013 will be assigned to the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB 8), the police maneuver unit primarily tasked to confront the insurgency problem in Eastern Visayas.

The 145 male and 44 female Scouts belong to police recruit “Matidlas” or “Matapat at Disiplinadong Tagapagpatupad ng Batas” class of 2012.

The PNP Scout is a rigid 45-day training designed to equip police officers with the requisite skills and confidence that will give them a distinct advantage and proper knowledge in counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism operation.

The course puts premium on combat skills development, jungle fighting and survival techniques and also teaches the participants the principles and techniques of urban crisis response operations primarily on search and rescue (SAR) and police interventions.

Under Commission on Election 9733, the PNP was deputized to perform specific duties relative to the conduct of the barangay elections.