By Joel Francis Guinto (Inquirer)PAG-ASA ISLAND -- Police Officer 2 Allan Remojo had single-handedly achieved what no ranking police official could do -- keep his area of jurisdiction free of crime.
For five months in this island village in the disputed Spratly islands, the only report on the police blotter was for alarm and scandal, which was not even counted on the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime index.
Remojo is the only policeman in this 34-hectare island with a civilian
population of 23. His police station is a nipa hut. At night, he patrols the island with two barangay tanods [village guards].
"The only report is for alarm and scandal, one villager got drunk and made a scene," Remojo told reporters.
When asked if petty crimes such as snatching had been reported since his assignment here in February, Remojo said: "No."
Senior Superintendent Elpidio de Asis Jr., Palawan provincial police
commander, said four policemen would take turns manning the Pag-asa village police station.
"Eventually, we will bring in some more policemen here," De Asis said in a separate interview.
Military officials refused to reveal how many soldiers were stationed in the island for security reasons.
Of the 53 islands in the Kalayaan chain, Pag-asa is the only one with an airstrip, which is not even concretized.
Landing on the island is rough. Some soldiers and reporters aboard the cargo section of a C-130 plane almost fell from their seats when the aircraft touched down before noon Saturday.
Military Chief General Generoso Senga and his family were on the same plane, seated on the VIP section of the aircraft. He was in Pag-asa Island to check on the morale of the troops and to bid them farewell. He will retire on July 21.
From Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province, it takes about an hour and 15 minutes to reach Pag-asa Island. By boat, it takes two days.
There is only one mobile phone service provider in the island, but when Senga and his party were there Saturday, there was no signal.
Residents said however that the cell site was not damaged.
The Chief of Staff visits the island at least once a year. Every two months, a Navy ship docks to bring supplies such as fuel.
In the morning, residents get their electricity from generators from the Kalayaan municipal government and the Navy. A solar power plant lights up the village at night with energy collected during the day.
Beaches with powdery white sand surround the island. To get to the area where fishermen set sail, one coming from the village proper has to maneuver through a trail filled with trees and shrubs.
On the opposite end of the island, Senga said plans were underway to build a “beaching area” or docking site for Navy ships.
A Navy ship, damaged when it attempted to dock sometime in 2004, had remained there.
Senga said the ship would be sold as scrap metal after Navy mechanics had salvaged all its possible spare parts.
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