Sarangani cops step up drive vs illegal activities

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Police units in Sarangani province have stepped up their campaigns against criminals and other illegal activities, especially in the coastal areas.

Col. Nicomedes Olaivar Jr., officer-in-charge of the Sarangani Police Provincial Office, said Monday such a move was based on the latest marching orders relayed to their office by the Police Regional Office-12.

He said their top priority is addressing the illegal logging, mining, gambling, smuggling, and the entry of criminal or lawless elements and undocumented persons in the coastal barangays in six of its seven municipalities.

Their units will also assist concerned agencies in the enforcement activities against illegal fishing and other related violations, he said.

“These will be our main focus as we continue to ensure the security of our communities,” Olaivar, who assumed last Sept. 23 as the acting provincial police director, said in an interview with reporters.

Olaivar, who previously served as chief of the PRO-12 Regional Support Group, replaced Col. Michael Lebanan, who was designated as chief of the Regional Directorial Staff.

The official said they will continue reaching out to local communities, especially those previously influenced by local terrorist groups and the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

The Sarangani police, in partnership with the provincial and municipal Task Forces to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, had helped facilitate the surrender of dozens of NPA rebels and their sympathizers.

In terms of illegal logging and mining, Olaivar said they will partner with local environmental agencies to help curb the problem.

Illegal mining activities were previously confirmed by concerned local government units and agencies in the mountainous areas of Kiamba and Maitum towns.

The provincial government of Sarangani and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 12 had created a task force to address illegal logging activities, especially in critical forests and mountain ranges in the area. (PNA) 

 

 

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https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1154769
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