The Philippine National Police yesterday warned police commanders nationwide that they will be immediately sacked from their posts if they are attacked by communist rebels during the holidays.
The PNP also warned them that they would also be sacked if indiscriminate firing in relation to the New Year’s revelry would occur in their areas of jurisdiction.
Police Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, PNP deputy chief for operations, said the implementation of the one-strike policy was effective yesterday, a day after the highest security alert status was declared for police forces in Luzon and the Visayas.
“On indiscriminate firing that would result to injury and deaths, the one strike policy will strictly apply to all police commanders and chiefs of police who would fail to take appropriate actions to solve these cases within 24 hours,” said Cascolan.
“Our ultimate target is to reduce the 33 incidents of indiscriminate firing and 12 cases of stray bullet injuries last year to zero this Christmas season,” he added.
Cascolan said the same policy also applies to communist rebel attacks, as escalation of attacks are expected on the days leading to the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Dec. 26. (Aaron Recuenco)
