Police and military intelligence units have stepped up their monitoring of rebel movements in the province following a clash between Army troops and suspected members of the New Peoples’ Army rebels last month. Police Insp. Samuel Ofilas, police community relations’ officer, said efforts are focused on the movements of NPA rebels in all Ilocos Norte towns to check whether the rebel group has strengthened its influence in the communities. “Latest monitoring reports showed that there has been no rebel sightings in any of the Ilocos Norte towns after the bloody encounter between government troops and suspected NPA members,” Ofilas said. Separate clash between government troops and NPA rebels in Nueva Era and Badoc towns resulted last month in the death of three NPA leaders and the arrest of members Sheila Lawagan and Leonardo Manahan Ofilas assured that Ilocos Norte remained generally peaceful despite the occurrence of pocket encounters between army troops and the NPA rebel group. Despite limited number of policemen guarding the security of residents, Ofilas said the PNP has posted various police units in key areas to ensure police visibility. As this developed, Ofilas assured foreign nationals who are either on a visit or running tourist facilities in Ilocos Norte that police security shall be provided upon their request. The police have yet to identify the suspect behind the shooting of Australian businessman Fraser Kirwan and his wife Celine in Badoc town last week. Kirwan, who survived the attack, immediately sought protection and asked local authorities to go after the lone gunman who was behind the shooting. Kirwan runs a seven-room resort facility in Badoc island. Milagros Gonzales, Department of Tourism provincial chief, raised the fear that foreign investors may back out from setting up tourism facilities or avoid visiting the province if foreign nationals are not provided adequate protection. PIA Ilocos News
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