VICE Gov. Agnes Magpale said she will lobby for the revival of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) during next week’s Regional Peace and Order Council in Cebu City.
Magpale told reporters that she will lobby for proper training of barangay and BIN personnel in monitoring and verifying reports in light of the Abu Sayyaf incident in Inabanga town, Bohol province.
She said rumors and speculations that abounded in social media on the whereabouts of the bandits have caused alarm to the public.
Magpale said they need to verify these reports and barangay workers are the frontliners in communities.
“The BIN should be activated and not just in paper. They should be trained to help prevent false alarm,” she said.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III earlier confirmed that the RPOC meeting will be held on May 3 at the Cebu Grand Hotel.
The council is composed of local government officials, line agencies, the PNP and the military in Central Visayas.
Davide was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as RPOC-7 chairman in January this year and officially assumed the post on February 15 after receiving his appointment papers.
Davide earlier said he would focus on issues of terrorism and the war against drugs during his term as RPOC chairperson.