CABANATUAN CITY – The Nueva Ecija police have brought in two new “watchdogs” to usher a safe and free midterm elections even as peace and order in the province is being handled by a special task group.
Barnie, a Belgian Malinois and Frankie, a yellow Labrador, both 5, were commissioned by Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves, Nueva Ecija police director, to reinforce the police anti-illegal firearms campaign in preparation for the forthcoming elections and related peace efforts.
“They were trained in Fort Bonifacio to detect bombs, detonating cords, bullets and various forms of explosives,” Nieves said saying the two have effectively served in some areas of Mindanao prior to their Nueva Ecija duties.
It was the first time the provincial police employed trained dogs since K-9 units were used in government’s anti-crime drive.
Barnie and Frankie who are being handled by their own trainees at the headquarters here were trained in searching for explosives in different situations, Nieves said. “They are tested in looking form bombs and explosives under the soil, on drainage, inside cars and other conditions.”
Nueva Ecija was named one among 15 provinces under priority areas category for the forthcoming May 13 synchronized senatorial and local elections.
Nieves said police have recovered some 500 guns since January when the province was placed under the stewardship of the Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) headed by Chief Supt. Wendy Del Rosario of the Central Luzon police office.
Nieves said the K-9 units will be useful particularly in serving search warrants.
This as the provincial PNP also produced spikes and barbed wire barricade to be used in special anti-criminality checkpoint or chokepoint operations.
Supt. Ricardo Villanueva, commander of the provincial public safety company, said that the approximately 2-inch spikes in accordion-like steels would be laid on the road when a chokepoint is set-up when a “crime has just been committed.”
Some drivers expressed apprehension about the new gadget. But Villanueva said police will be most prudent in using it, along with the barbed steels. Villanueva said the spikes can stop even the hard-tired trucks.
“We always respect human rights when we serve and protect the people,” Villanueva said.
