Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Police Commission instituted Institute New Directive

The PNP and the National Police Commission instituted a new Directorate Of Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) for Western Mindanao. This body will ensure support and mutual co-operation among law enforcement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government and non-government (NGO) organizations in Western Mindanao to counter Terrorists, insurgents and other lawless groups. The worthwhile goal is to promote peace and development.

Mayor Celso Lobregat, the Mayor of beautiful Zamboanga City and a strong advocate of Peace that is good for all citizens, welcomes DIPO as a way of stopping the kidnapping for ransom and other terrorist activity.

Mayor Lobregat stated recently (Daily Zamboanga Times, November 28): "We have cited the need for the creation of a special police anti-kidnapping group whose area of jurisdiction is wider than that of the existing Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response Unit"...

The Program will develop a coherent approach to fight terrorists, kidnap for ransom and human trafficking. DIPO would combat these crimes within all of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The Mayor of Zamboanga indicated that the kidnapping terrorists have become bolder and they take victims to neighboring provinces (Basilan, where I am) . They are held in the jungle where many other regional (Such as Zamboanga City Police) police operatives have had no jurisdiction.

This DIPO-Western Mindanao would become the answer to this problem. This (hopefully) will lead to an area command for PNP (Philippine National Police) covering all areas in the region similar to the Philippine Military Western Mindanao Command. This will give a centralized cooperative effort to the police to pursue criminals and terrorists all throughout the area including Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi. Perhaps, in this way, the escalating kidnappings and dangerous activity can be limited if not stopped.

DISCUSSION: As I understand this Program, police from DIPO-WESTERN MINDANAO could pursue these illegal activities in areas, such as Basilan, where kidnap victims are taken and other terrorist activity take place. This sounds like a rational approach to an escalating law enforcement problem. We will watch for events to unfold. The PNP and National Police Commission are to be congratulated for this effort.