Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Chairperson Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. convened the members of the council in a meeting held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Session Hall, Capitol Building, Iba Zambales on February 12, 2013. This is the first PPOC meeting of the province for CY 2013. The event was made possible thru the effort of the DILG led by Provincial Director Armi V. Bactad, CESO V, PPOC head secretariat, in close coordination with the Provincial Government.
Members of the PPOC in attendance included SSupt. Francisco D. Santiago (Philippine National Police), SP Member Wilfredo Paul D. Pangan (head of the Committee on Peace and Order), Ruben C. Delos Santos (NAPOLCOM), Leonila T. Baluyut (DTI), Lt. Col. Michael G. Samson (Philippine Army), F/Supt. Jorge B. Fariñas (BFP), Nelda D. Maycong (PPO 1st District, DOJ), Romulo Manangan (PPO 2nd District, DOJ), Bishop Virginio Ducos (Hiyas ng Pag-Asa), and Zoilo F. Abenoja (NGO-Senior Citizens). Representatives from the Provincial Prosecutor-DOJ, NBI, PSWDO, and DPWH also attended the said meeting.
Also present were Vice-Governor Ramon G. Lacbain II; Mayors Ronaldo F. Apostol (Cabangan), Jean N. Moraña (Candelaria), Jose Angelo M. Dominguez (Castillejos), Desiree S. Edora (Masinloc), Generoso F. Amog (Palauig), Estela D. Antipolo (San Antonio), Carolyn S. Fariñas (San Felipe), and Peter T. Lim (San Narciso). The mayors of Botolan and Iba were represented by the municipal administrator and a Sangguniang Bayan member, respectively.
Chiefs of Police from the thirteen (13) municipalities were also present, along with the province’s department heads.
The meeting was highlighted with the presentation from both Philippine Army (PA) and the PNP in maintaining peace and order in the province. In particular, the PA discussed the current status of insurgency along with the programs they are currently implementing so that threats posed by rebels will soon be downgraded and eventually be treated insignificant. The PNP, meanwhile, highlighted their successes in reducing the crime rate in the province, along with their continuing programs in maintaining safety within the community.
