Republic of the Philippines

National Police Commission

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE 9
ISABELA CITY POLICE STATION
Sunrise Barangay, Isabela City, Zamboanga Peninsula
Hotline: 0917-7135172 / 0917-8592005/*:opn.icps@yahoo.com

CREATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FORCES COMPANY IN ISABELA CITY

I. REFERENCES:
a. A PNP-NHQ ISO CAMPAIGN PLAN “SAMAHAN”;
b. PNP Master ISO Plan LOI Maagap-Alpha;
c. Recommendation of ICPS to RD, PRO 9 during his command visit on July
1, 2020 at Isabela City Police Station Conference Room.

II. PURPOSE:
This is in line with the ICPS recommendation during a conference together
with the Regional Director and his staff last July 1, 2020 at Isabela City Police Station
Conference Room that there is a need to create and form a Public Safety Force
Company here in Isabela City to address problems regarding terrorist groups, criminal
gang groups and Internal Security Operations.

III. SITUATION

Several years back, Isabela City was assaulted with violent atrocities caused
by the notorious group Abu Sayaff (ASG) in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. The
group conducted series of kidnapping activities in the city targeting teachers,
businessmen and clergies. The group also conducted extortions, random killings and
bombings. But the continuous manhunt operation conducted on the members of the
group macerated the group’s terrible presence in the city. On April 2010, Abusayaf
disguised in police uniforms set off bombs and fired at civilians that left 15 people
dead. The gunmen detonated two home-made bombs near a church and a school
sports grandstand in Isabela city which resulted to six civilians killed and cause
heavy damage to buildings.
Other group mostly common criminals and those called urban terrorists have
emerged and posed havoc into the city by conducting spate of killings and
carnappings. These groups who were also popularly known as “city hunters”
(inspired by the Korean drama of the same title) dwindled as the group’s members
were themselves being hunted. As of this period new criminal groups emerged, the
“Anjawani Group” operating within Isabela City Area and other neighboring
Municipalities, conducting Illegal Drugs, Kidnappings, Motor napping and Gun for
hire resulting shooting incidents to rise for the period of 2017 to 2018.

For the period, the peace and order situation in the city is generally peaceful
and this can be attributed to the strong collaboration of ICPS, Isabela City
Government, AFP (4th SF Bn) and other LEAs operating in the AOR but we cannot
discount the possibility that there might be future occurrence and they might looking
for opportune time to attack and cause havoc in the city. There is also a need to
consider that most of these friendly forces and LEAs are under administrative and
operational control of Basilan and of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) leaving the Isabela City under the control and
supervision of PRO 9, with “no” Public Safety Force Company that will address
problems on terrorism and public safety. It will take hours and sea travel for the
mobile forces of PRO 9 to send reinforcements in case an attack will happen on the
Isabela City.

IV. ASSESSMENT

Isabela City Police Station has no Public Safety Force Company to address
problems on terrorism, high profile criminal gang groups, Internal Security
Operations and Public Safety. Although Isabela City is generally peaceful, it we will
not be an assurance, for the enemy will find opportunity to infiltrate and conduct
atrocities at any opportune time just like what happen in the past.

Granting that there are presence of the AFP, PNP SAF and other Law
Enforcement Agencies still ICPS is in need of a unit that will be under the direct and
control of Police Regional Office 9 to combat terrorism and insurgency.

ICPS has limited firepower, equipment and ISO trained personnel that can
match the high powered firearms of the enemy but when we consider deploying
public safety mobile forces, it can give us the edge in fighting terrorists and other
high profile lawless elements.

V. RECOMMENDATION

ICPS, under the command and supervision of PLTCOL HOMER T DUMALAG

therefore recommend to the LGU of Isabela City under the leadership of HON. SITTI
DJALIA T HATAMAN, City Mayor, the crafting of resolution for the creation of “Public
Safety Force Company” here in Isabela City.

HOMER T DUMALAG
Police Lieutenant Colonel
Chief of Police