Makakaasa ang publiko na ginagawa na ng Marcos Administration ang lahat ng hakbang upang mapigilan ang mga komunistang rebelde, na magsagawa ng panibagong terroristic activities sa Masbate.
“Citing the assessment of security officials, Galvez said the recent attacks by the rebels are acts of desperation after they encountered a series of setbacks in recent clashes with government troops.” —Secretary Garafil
Pahayag ito ni PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil kasunod ng mga serye ng engkwentro sa pagitan ng New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at mga sundalo ng pamahalaan, sa lugar nitong nagdaang linggo.
“The 9th ID reported that on Wednesday morning, two soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) were wounded in an encounter with more or less 11 NPA members at Barangay Locso-an in Placer town.” — Secretary Garafil
Alinsunod aniya sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ang 9th Infantry Division (ID) at Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Regional Command sa Bicol ay nagkasundo na para sa pagpapataas ng police visibility sa mga paaralan, na naapektuhan ng mga panggugulo ng NPA.
“The Philippine Army and PNP units in the area have intensified their operations against the rebels, Galvez said, adding concerned military commanders are also coordinating with the police, local government and school officials on how to counter the rebels’ misinformation campaign.” — Secretary Garafil
Magsasagawa na rin aniya ng peace and order council meetings upang matugunan ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon sa lugar.
“Galvez noted that there is an emerging pattern among the insurgents of ambushing government forces and putting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in populated areas such as schools with little or no regard for the safety of students, teachers and other civilians.” —Secretary Galvez
Nag-active na rin ng quick reaction teams ang pamahalaan upang asistehan ang mga apektadong estudyante, guro, at local population sa Masbate.“School officials were also briefed on how to react appropriately to a similar situation involving firefights or IED incidents in areas with close proximity to learning institutions,” —Secretary Galvez. | ulat ni Racquel Bayan