Roxas: Patrol jeeps will help address insurgency issues in Samar towns

Press Release
May 29, 2015

MANILA – Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas is certain that the 23 brand new patrol jeeps turned over to all municipalities in Samar on Thursday (May 28) will not just help the province in times of disaster, but will definitely reinforce the counter-insurgency operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the area.

"Matindi ang pangangailangan ng internal security operations dito. Maraming insidente kasama ang NPA (New People's Army) sa buong island ng Samar. Tinutugunan natin ito para makapagresponde, para makapagpatrolya, at sakaling mangyari man ay mahahanap at mahahabol nila ang mga salarin na ito," Roxas stressed during the turn-over of vehicle units in Catbalogan, Samar on Thursday.

With the new patrol jeep units, Roxas assured Samar residents that the PNP can deliver support to troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the frontliners who are tasked to neutralize internal security threats.

The peace and security situation of the province in Samar also urged Roxas to discuss operative solutions with Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Police Regional Director Asher Dolina, 8th Infantry Division Commander Gen. Jet Velarmino, Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, and Catbalogan City Mayor Stephanie Tan.

Roxas also told local government and police officials that the new patrol jeeps are results of inclusive growth and that the government has never left their side.

"Tignan natin ito hindi lang bilang patrol jeep pero bilang isang simbolo na kabahagi tayong lahat ng isang lipunan, republika, at pamahalaan na hindi kayo kinakalimutan," Roxas said.

Samar is the first province to receive brand new multi-role patrol vehicle units in Eastern Visayas, as a complementary part of OPLAN Lambat-Sibat, an intensified anti-crime campaign that employs a deliberate, programmatic, and sustained approach initiated by Roxas.

He reiterated the importance of addressing issues in peace and order, not only for society in general, but more importantly, for the individual.