Army repositions troops in Region 12, nearby areas

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 5): Army repositions troops in Region 12, nearby areas

More Army troopers will be deployed in the coming days in key cities in Region 12 and the neighboring areas in line with the declaration of the state of lawless violence by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Brig. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commanding officer of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, said Monday they are currently repositioning their units and personnel to facilitate their immediate deployment to the urban areas.

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) national headquarters ordered over the weekend the redeployment of troops based in the hinterland areas to key cities and municipalities.

Such order was based on the President’s declaration of the state of lawless violence, which mainly “calls out for the AFP to complement and supplement the Philippine National Police on law enforcement matters,” he said.

President Duterte issued the declaration following the deadly bomb attack at a night market in Davao City late Friday night that left 15 people dead and more than 60 others injured.

The Army’s 1002nd Brigade, which is based in Malungon town in Sarangani, has operational jurisdiction over portions of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato in Region 12, and Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental in Region 11.

It also covers the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Digos.

Villanueva said their deployment and “security hardening” activities will be mainly focused on the four cities.

“We are mainly assigning additional troops to these areas to assist local police units and personnel in conducting law enforcement operations,” he said.

Aside from the redeployment of troops, the Army official said they have also strengthened their intelligence operations in the area.

He said they specifically gathering information on the possible movements of terror groups and other armed elements.

“We are looking at persons of interest and organizations, their activities and locations,” he said.

Villanueva appealed to local residents to be more vigilant and immediately report to authorities “suspicious new faces and abnormal movements of people.”

He admitted that the terror threats being faced by the area after the bomb attack in Davao City are quite “serious.”

“We’re bracing for the worst and taking all necessary measures to avert or counter them,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=920174