BANGUED, Abra (PIA) – The Abra Police Provincial Office (PPO) is intensifying the conduct of Commission on Elections (COMELEC) checkpoints in the different municipalities of the province following a number of shooting incidents from January 1 to March 12, 2025.
Abra PPO Director Police Colonel Gilbert Fati-ig, during an emergency meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) on March 17, emphasized the importance of reinforcing checkpoints and increasing police visibility as shooting incidents climbed to a total of 11 cases with 17 victims recorded.
“The conduct of COMELEC checkpoint and police visibility are vital crime prevention strategies to deter or at least minimize the occurrence of shooting incidents during this election period,” he said.
He added that reinforcement efforts will particularly focus from 4:00 PM to 12:00 midnight when shooting incidents mostly occurred.
Fati-ig also stressed improving manpower and police capacity in election areas of concern such as Tayum, Bangued, and Pilar where the incidents were reported.
As an update, four cases are still under investigation with one in Bangued, two in Pilar, and one in Tayum.
A total of six cases were already referred to the Provincial Prosecutors Office and now under preliminary investigation. One case in La Paz was already solved through amicable settlement.
“We will re-orient personnel manning the checkpoints about the basic standard operating procedures in the conduct of checkpoints and to remind them that all kinds of vehicles shall be subjected to checkpoints,” Fati-ig said.
The Abra top cop also shared efforts to intensify the police’s peace and order operations and programs to control loose firearms.
He said that training and workshops are eyed to increase the investigative capability of the police to fast track the resolution of crime cases. (JJMT, PIA-CAR, Abra)
