LUPPO CONFIRMS LA UNION IS STILL INSURGENCY FREE
By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros, GPC-SP | Photo By: Ralph Aldrich Sison, SP | Date: August 22, 2019
La Union Police Provincial Office Acting Provincial Director Jay R. Cumigad reports on the peace and order situation of the province particularly on terrorist threats during the committee hearing of the Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety chaired by Board Member Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V on August 22, 2019 at the Eriguel Hall, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Building, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.
To end the speculation on the terrorist threat in Northern Luzon that circulated online, the Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety chaired by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member (SPM) Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V conducted a committee hearing on August 22, 2019 at the Eriguel Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.
The hearing was conducted to discuss the issues and concerns of the SPMs which were raised during their 7th Regular Session on August 13, 2019 on the report of La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO) on the peace and order situation of the province particularly on terrorism.
LUPPO Acting Provincial Director Jay Cumigad clarified that the terrorist threat which went viral on social media was a raw and unconfirmed information. However, the LUPPO went into full alert and took necessary actions. "Since the information came into our attention, our police force from all stations with the intelligence branch continuously monitored the location of Muslims enclaves and their leaders. Results of further validation conducted in coordination with all units concerned yielded negative result," explained by PCOL Cumigad.
PCOL Cumigad added the LUPPO deployed sufficient number of police personnel to closely monitor thickly populated places such as malls, markets, bus terminals, churches and other places of worship. Information dissemination thru the social media and local radio stations was also conducted to clarify the issue and properly inform the public to further prevent panic or disorientation.
PCOL Cumigad suggested that there should be a contingency plan wherein the Philippine National Police (PNP) and all the local government units are involved in order to have a Whole-of-a-Government approach.
In this light, the Committee will jointly discuss with the SP Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Management and Relief Services, the Provincial Peace and Order Council led by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III, and other agencies for the immediate drafting of the peace and order security plan.
