AFP CentCom anticipating spillover of Maute terrorists

From the Visayan Daily Star (May 27): AFP CentCom anticipating spillover of Maute terrorists

While President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law only in Mindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Central Command in the Visayas, is gearing up in case it will be expanded to other areas in the country.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, deputy commander of the Central Command, yesterday made the announcement as he called on Governor Roel Degamo at the Capitol and told him he was in Negros Oriental to visit the troops in the province, specifically the 79th Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Negros Island Geographical Battalion.

There is a possibility that martial law will be extended in the Visayas, based on the pronouncements made by President Duterte following his arrival from Russia.

Arrojado said there is still no Implementing Rules and Regulations of the martial law declared by the President, but nevertheless, he has started talking to troops in the province on “what to expect”.

He said the Central Command is anticipating a spillover of Muslim extremist groups from Mindanao, saying terrorists of the Maute Group, who engaged government security forces in Marawi, might seek shelter in the Visayas or bring their wounded here for treatment.

The possibility is remote, but the threat remains that is why Arrojado said he is meeting with the governor and the troops here to sustain efforts to ensure that Negros Oriental will not be the next target of these Muslim extremists.

“So far, they are on the run and negotiating to have a ceasefire because some of their members have been held captive. But, I don't think the government would give in”, he added.

On apprehensions raised by many regarding possible abuses in relation to the martial law declaration, Arrojado assured that the troops are constantly reminded to observe human rights at the highest level.

“We know for a fact that the intent of the commander-in-chief, the President, is to defeat the terrorists and contain or stop the drug abuse and criminality, so that is why the (declaration of) the martial law”, he stressed.

As deputy commander, it is part of his job to visit the units, give lectures on human rights, about gender sensivity, violence against women and the like, so troops would adhere to existing laws, he added.

Arrojado stressed that unlike the martial law days of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos, there are a lot of safeguards in the present dispensation, saying the Ombudsman and Commission on Human Rights are there as well as active social media to monitor the implementation of today's martial rule.

Soldiers now are well-trained and a lot different from back then, plus there are internal controls to ensure that no human rights violations are committed,he added.

Degamo assured Arrojado that he is all-out in supporting the President's decision to declare Martial Law in Mindanao and even in the Visayas, if necessary, to protect and defend the interest of the Filipino people.

The governor reiterated his marching orders to sustain the gains of Task Force Leon Kilat and Task Force Deter to make sure the boundaries are sealed from terrorist groups coming from Mindanao.

Task Force Deter commander, Navy Capt. Jorge Ibarra, said that immediately upon the guidance of the President, patrols are conducted to prevent a naval vacuum especially in the northern part of Mindanao.


Navy patrols are becoming frequent between the southern part of Negros and Dapitan and Dipolog, as well as in the seawaters between Siquijor and Bohol, and then Bohol down to the northern Mindanao area.

However, even if the navy patrols are refocused, Ibarra assured the province that it is stretching its security down to the level of the fisherfolk in coastal areas, to help them in information gathering.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/May/27/negor1.htm