Army’s 3rd ID sustains patrol, strengthens preventive measures

From the Philippine News Agency (May 25): Army’s 3rd ID sustains patrol, strengthens preventive measures

The 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has sustained security patrol and strengthened preventive measures in the wake of the atrocities of the Maute group in Marawi City that prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare Martial Law in Mindanao.

Maj. Gen. Jon Aying, commander of the 3rd ID based in Jamindan, Capiz, said as of Thursday government troops continue with security patrol operations and work with the local government units.

“We have to strengthen our preventive and deterrent measures. We also need to identify possible vulnerable areas,” he said.

The 3rd ID has troops in the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Aklan, Antique and Guimaras.

Aying said the declaration of martial law in Mindanao was advantageous to other regions since the violence would already be suppressed there with strict security measures.

He added that the bandits could not possibly leave Mindanao and go to Visayas because they have “no bases and no sympathizers here”.

For his part, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. called on Negrenses to be vigilant for a possible spillover of violence to the Visayas, but stressed that he was not convinced the Maute bandits would come to Negros because they had no sympathizers in the province.

Marañon added that President Duterte’s move to declare Martial Law in Mindanao has his full support. “(It’s) long overdue. I fully support the President,” the governor said.

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines Inc. (ULAP) headed by Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, had expressed support to the President’s decision to declare martial law in Mindanao.

“The President's declaration is required to ensure public safety, and to restore peace and order. In the forefront of local service delivery, we see this declaration as an integral move to address the urgent needs of our affected brothers and sisters in the area,” the ULAP manifesto issued Wednesday said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/990961