THE NEWLY assumed Task Force Davao commander has vowed to strengthen the intelligence capability of the military.
“I intend to strengthen intelligence monitoring to cover all areas of concerns,” said Col. Erwin Bernard Neri, in his speech during the change of command ceremony at the TFD headquarters at Sta. Wharf yesterday.
Neri said he will involve the public not only in informing about terrorism but also making them more vigilant in monitoring, reporting and the practice of personal security and safety.
“In light of the latest terror attack in the city, let us be with the strong people of Davao in overcoming the incident and turning it into opportunity,” Neri said.
The new TFD chief said he will also enhance the level of awareness through the conduct of drills and exercises and engage all sectors in the community to encourage cooperation.
“We really have to raise the awareness of everyone to detect and deter various threats,” said Neri, the 12th TFD commander.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she is expecting the new TFD commander to do more on his job in protecting the city from terror attack and keeping it safe.
The mayor, in his speech during the ceremony, thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in helping secure the city.
Mayor Duterte attended the turnover ceremony as the guest of honor and speaker, with Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of 10th Infantry Division and Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, commander of Eastern Mindanao Command, in attendance.
Neri replaced outgoing TFD chief Col. Henry Robinson who was axed by Mayor Duterte following the Sept. 2 Roxas night market bombing that killed 14 people and wounded 70 others.
Neri, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class 1988, said he will be bringing in his vast experience in handling various major positions in the military service throughout his career.
Before assuming the TFD post, he was the chief of the unified command staff of Eastern Mindanao Command based in Panacan.
His junior officer days were spent in Eastern Mindanao Command, particularly in 28th Infantry Battalion as platoon leader, company commander, and staff officer.
From 1995-1999, Neri became a military instructor in PMA before he was deployed as member of the first batch of the Philippine contingent of peace keeping forces in East Timor.
In 2002, he handled various positions during his stint with the Presidential Security Group that enhanced his skills in VIP protection, events security and crisis management. He later commanded the Presidential guard’s battalion of the PSG.
Further, Neri became the battalion commander of 79th Infantry Battalion and subsequently as operations officer of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz in Western Visayas.
He was then assigned as executive officer of the office of the assistant chief of staff for Civil Military Operation, both in headquarters Philippine Army.
Neri finished various military and civilian schoolings such as the joint transition course and joint and combined warfighting course at Joint Forces Staff College in Virginia, USA; and Masters in Public Management at University of the Philippines-Baguio.
The TFD, the elite group tasked to protect the city from terrorism, was created in 2003 right after the so-called twin bombings that hit the Davao International Airport and the Sasa Wharf that killed a total of 38 people and wounded some 210 others.
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