FILE PHOTO: Philippine Army contingent stands guard at the entry point of Maguindanao province in Buluan (Photoville International)
DAVAO, Philippines — During the AFP-PNP press conference on Wednesday some military officials said that the government have strengthened their forces especially this election period.
According to Eastern Mindanao Commander Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, they have deployed special forces and added approximately 13,000 personnel or workforce with an equivalent number of CAFGU or the Citizens Armed Geographical Unit, Eastern Mindanao-wide particularly in places identified by the Commission on Election (COMELEC) being in the election watch list or previously known as election hot spots.
These are the places enlisted in the historical data of the COMELEC with increased reports of election related offenses or places with high crime rates and threats to security during the past elections.
Major General Guerrero said, “Sa Eastern Mindanao Command, we now have four special operations forces or special operations unit na nandidito sa ating area and three special forces battalions na nandoon sa area ng 4th Infantry Division and we have one Scout Ranger batallion dito sa 10th Infantry Division.”
(In the Eastern Mindanao Command, we now have four special operations forces or special operations unit which are here in the area and three special force battalions in the area of the 4th Infantry Division and we have one scout ranger battalion here in the 10th Infantry Division.)
Guerrero named the places included in the election watch list.
“Nakikita natin ang preponderance ng NPA sightings at activities sa areas ng Surigao del Sur. Sa parte ng 4th Infantry Division and dito sa 10th Infantry Division, dito sa may Compostella Valley, although there are packets of sightings in other provinces.”
(We saw preponderance of NPA sightings and activities in the areas of Surigao del Sur, part of the 4th Infantry Division and here in the 10th Infantry Division, in Compostella Valley although there are packets of sightings in other provinces.)
Meanwhile according to the AFP, there is no confirmation yet on reports that there are already ISIS troops in the country particularly in Jolo, Sulu.
However, our military forces in the region are prepared for any attacks hence there should be no cause for alarm on the part of the civilians.
Spokesperson of 10th ID Captain Ryan Batchar said, “The 10th Infantry Division is very ready. We also have 2 task forces to monitor the presence of these terrorist groups, they are also well-trained and they also have equipment to counter these terrorism activities na pwedeng gawin nitong grupo ng ISIS… but for the meantime, we don’t have any reports, validated reports on the presence of ISIS here in the areas of Davao Region.”
(The 10th ID is very ready, we also have two task forces to monitor the presence of these terrorist groups. They are also well-trained and they also have equipment to counter these terrorism activities that may be done by this ISIS terrorist groups… but for the meantime, we don’t have any reports, validated reports on the presence of ISIS here in these areas of Davao Region.)
(Joeie Domingo / UNTV News)
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