Bangued, Abra - Amid ongoing concerns regarding shooting incidents in Abra, a Special Operations Task Group (RSTOG) of the Police Regional Office—Cordillera has been activated to bolster peace and security efforts in the province, especially as the 2025 national and local elections draw near.
For the first three months of the year, there have been 21 shooting incidents in Abra recorded. Among the latest incidents is the shootout between two political groups in Tayum on April 21, resulting in the death of a man, while on April 23, a 63-year-old woman was shot to death in Bangued.
In response to the alarming rise in shooting incidents across the province, the PRO-CAR held an emergency meeting on April 24 at the Abra PPO Provincial Headquarters in Camp Col. Juan Villamor, Barangay Calaba, Bangued, led by PRO-CAR Regional Director PBGEN David K. Peredo Jr.
During the urgent meeting, it was resolved that a dedicated task force would be activated to address the security situation and to lead the coordinated efforts in preparation for the upcoming elections.
An office for the regional task group was immediately established at Camp Juan Villamor to serve as a strategic base for collaboration, planning, and preparations for the “crucial” midterm elections in the province.
As part of the task force group’s initiatives, video surveillance systems, or CCTVs, were installed in key towns where the recent shooting incidents occurred. These include Bangued, Tayum , and Pidigan. The move is aimed at improving crime deterrence, strengthening public safety, and enabling swift police responses to incidents.
Further reinforcing security, the RSTOG has turned over nine mobile assets to the Abra PPO to improve their mobility and operations ahead of the elections. These assets include six police motorcycles, two 4x4 vehicles, and one multicab, which were formally handed over by the Deputy Regional Director for Operations of PRO-CAR and RSOTG Commander Police Colonel Julio Lizardo.
The vehicles are intended to further enhancing police operations, response time, and overall effectiveness.
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