Region 1 Peace and Order Checked
By: Camille R. Bumatay, OPG-MPIU | Photo By: Sonny Buenaventura, OPG-MPIU | Date: January 29, 2020
The Regional Peace and Order Council Region 1 chaired by Gov. Pacoy approves of the resolution declaring the Province of Pangasinan as Insurgency Free during the First Quarter Meeting on January 29, 2020 at the Diego Silang Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union. Also reported in said meeting were their accomplishments in anti-criminality, anti-illegal drugs and anti-insurgency; results of different local government unit assessments and audits; and 2020 action plan.
The Regional Peace and Order Council Region 1 (RPOC 1) headed by Chairman Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III held their First Quarter Meeting on January 29, 2020 at the Diego Silang Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.
Reported in the meeting were the 2019 accomplishments of the RPOC 1 in anti-criminality, anti-illegal drugs and anti-insurgency; results of different local government unit (LGU) assessments and audits; and 2020 action plan.
The anti-criminality accomplishments for 2019 reflected that from a total crime incidents of 33,348 in 2018, it decreased to 23,362 in 2019 equivalent to 9,986 or 30% decrease. La Union crime incidents decreased from 7,036 in 2018 to 2,186 in 2019. Notable accomplishments were the successful conduct of 2019 Midterm National and Local Elections, 30th Southeast Asian Games 2019 Surfing Competition, and Ligtas Paskuhan 2019. The Philippine National Police Regional Office 1 was also awarded the Outstanding Regional Community Affairs and Development Division for CY 2019.
The anti-illegal drugs accomplishment in Region 1 showed 1,249 total operations conducted with 19 high impact operations; 1,480 arrested with 91 high value targets; total seized dangerous drugs with Dangerous Drugs Board Value of P28,433,980.7685; and 782 illegal drug-related cases were convicted while 146 were dismissed. This report was aided by advocacy campaigns, harm reduction programs through launching of 8 new Balay Silangan Reformation Centers in Region 1, and Oplan Harabas-Drug Test for bus companies, and barangay drug clearing programs.
For the anti-insurgency accomplishment for 2019, it was highlighted that there was no armed encounter in Region 1. There were 10,466 Focused Military Operations conducted with 10,353 of which were small unit operations. There were a total of 106 surrenderees and eight firearms acquired. For 2020, the council aims to have the Provinces of Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte declared as Insurgency Free and to enjoin all Provincial Governments in Region 1 to organize their respective Provincial Peace Panel headed by the governor.
MGen. Lenard T. Agustin, Commander of 7ID-AFP asked all governors to encourage their barangay captains to cooperate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in reporting cases of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army in their respective jurisdictions wherein the council responded with the action to draft a resolution for consideration.
Also highlighted in the meeting was the approval of the RPOC 1 Resolution declaring the Province of Pangasinan as Insurgency Free. The RPOC 1 Resolution on their Internal Rules and Procedures was also adopted.
Road clearing issuances and updates were also presented in compliance to Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2019-121 on clearing roads of illegal structures and constructions. Assessment and validation in Region 1 showed that 31% of LGUs had low compliance, 38% medium, 22% high, and 9% failed.
Audit Results on Peace and Order Council showed that the Province of La Union got 100% passing rate for all its LGUs. For the Anti-Drug Abuse Council Functionality, the province scored 100 becoming the only province in Region 1 with Ideal Functionality.
