AFP sends more troops in Davao region for security

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 2): AFP sends more troops in Davao region for security

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) central headquarters recently deployed additional forces in Davao region to beef up security measures amidst rebel atrocities in the past weeks.

Speaking at the AFP-PNP Press Corps forum Wednesday held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Lt. Col Lyndon Paniza, chief of public affairs office Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said two battalions of soldiers from Luzon and one battalion from Central Mindanao were transferred recently to Region 11 to augment the region’s current military forces.

Paniza could not ascertain the exact number of military forces in the region but said one division is composed of about 4,000 soldiers.

He made the statement when asked about the military’s move over the recent threat of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to mount more offensives against the Aquino administration following the arrest of CPP-NPA leaders couple Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria on March 22.

Paniza said retaliatory attacks from the rebel movement is expected as a "desperate move."

"If they want to attack they can do that but through the use of landmines and improvised explosive device (IED) because they could not succeed in a face-to-face attack with the military," he said.

He cited the landmine and IED incidents recently in Matanao, Davao del Sur launched by the rebel movement as worst for it killed seven soldiers and a policeman, and wounded about 30 soldiers.

But Paniza said the retaliatory attacks which he said the NPAs are boasting have not yet emerged in the region.

However, he assured the public of full security in the region.

Lt. Col Patrick Cinco, chief public affairs office of the 10th Infantry Division, for his part, said the “10th ID is on the upper hand against its adversaries” (particularly the NPAs).

He said the 10th ID is ready against any retaliatory attacks from the rebel movement using its current 14 battalions, four infantry brigade, rangers and special forces.

“Our forces are enough and we are ready always as these forces are already deployed in the communities,” he noted.

Cinco said military operations continue particularly in critical areas of the region.

Paniza also clarified that aside from security purposes, AFP Central Office has decided to reposition its soldiers by sending additional troops to Region 11 with Mindanao now prone to calamities.

He elaborated that in times of calamities, the military is usually the first responder to calamity-hit areas.

Hence, he said the augmentation of forces to Mindanao is to secure the island from rebel violence and to respond to disasters.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=631680