Army assures security for Cotabato City as Marines leave

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 4): Army assures security for Cotabato City as Marines leave

The Army's 6th Infantry Division today assured the people of Cotabato City and officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that security arrangement and strategies has not changed with the leaving of the Philippine Marines.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said one company of the 500-strong 1st Marine Battalion Landing Team will stay behind to form part of the special security unit that will protect the city and its environs.

Lt. Colonel Ronaldo Juan, MBLT-1 commander, in leaving the city, said his unit was grateful for the cooperation and assistance extended to them in the last three years or more that they served the city.

The business sector in the city has asked the Marines to at least leave one company to help local security officials to ensure the safety of local residents.

Hermoso, also the 6th ID Inspector General, said as the Marines leave an Army Special Forces came in headed by Lt. Col. Noel Mapili.

With the special task force in place, the city now is secured by an Army special forces battalion, a company of Marines, the 200 strong police force and other law enforcement agencies.

Cotabato City is surrounded by rivers and tributaries and the Army Special Forces are capable enough to secure because of it has several air boat units.

The Army special forces will also help secure the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which will eventually become the seat of power of the Bangsamoro government as a result of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=632404