Senior Supt. Benjamin Silo, Jr., Bataan police director, said the provincial police took the lead in conducting a joint peace and security coordination with personnel of the 48th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army to further strengthen their ties.
The provincial police office is in Camp Tolentino while 48th IB is located in Barangay Camacho, both in Balanga City. “In the conference, both forces agreed to conduct joint village dialogue, medical mission, outreach program, drug symposium and community- based project and livelihood for each locality,” Silo, a lawyer, said.
He said that police have created a “Sumbong Bilis Monitoring Team” in all the 237 barangays in 11 towns and one city in Bataan that will assist lawmen in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Under the scheme, all activities of the reformed drug surrenderers and the presence of drug activities, if any, will be reported to the team leader for quick action,” Silo said.
He said that the military, on the other hand, in consonance with the program of government will inform the community of monetary assistance for rebel-returnees in the amount of P15,000 to P50,000 and a sure livelihood program for communist rebels returning to the fold of the law.
The joint activity will be conducted on a weekly basis with the participation of the departments of Health and Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, CHED and members of drug convenors.
Silo is positive and with high hopes that this project with the military will further strengthen the bond and good rapport between them.
