THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said they are willing to boost the personnel in jail facilities nationwide, especially in Mindanao and Metro Manila.
The statement came in light of the recent attack at the North Cotabato District Jail (NCDJ) by more than a hundred men that led to the killing of seven people and escape of 158 inmates.
“If ordered, the PNP is ready to assist. We belong to one government, one administration and we will help other government agencies that will be asking for the assistance of the PNP,” spokesperson of PNP Dionardo Carlos said.
For its part, AFP chief of public affairs office Edgardo Arevalo said they are also ready to provide assistance in augmenting security forces in jail facilities.
However, he said they are yet to receive a formal notice about the matter.
“The AFP and the PNP are mutually supportive and aiding one another in each operation and the AFP is willing to provide augmentation. The modalities and the details of this request will be threshed out and discussed between the two agencies of government and from there we will be able to determine or know the extent of this assistance that they will be asking and we will be able to provide,” said Arevalo.
Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said he will ask the PNP and AFP to deploy additional personnel in several jail facilities nationwide.
In August, armed men also forcibly entered a provincial jail in Marawi, Lanao del Sur, which resulted in the escape of 13 inmates.
Sueno said the two separate incidents should be a big lesson to the government troops in order to avoid such untoward events in the future. (Sunnex)
