Duterte sends military division to Jolo after 5 soldiers die in clash

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 28): Duterte sends military division to Jolo after 5 soldiers die in clash

An entire military division will be deployed to Jolo, Sulu to address the peace and order problem in the province and nearby places, President Duterte said last Tuesday.



President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

The President announced the imminent troop movement after expressing dismay with the violent clash between government forces and the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul, Sulu several days ago.

The encounter, which left five soldiers dead and several others wounded, was considered a “flashpoint” by the President.

“We visited a wake at Cauayan. I was with (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana and (Interior and Local Government) Secretary (Eduardo) Año. I talked to them and complained about why so many of my soldiers in Jolo are dying,” he said during a visit to a military camp in Bohol.

“By December 1, I told Secretary Lorenzana, ‘I want one division there’ so I will provide you with a Glock and three magazines,” he told the government troops.

In a later media interview at the inauguration of a new Bohol Panglao International Airport, the President explained that he wanted a bigger military presence in Jolo following the recent attack by the Abu Sayyaf group.

“In Jolo, I also expressed my dismay about the losses that’s why I went to Cauayan to visit the five soldiers who were killed in Sulu and I went to Zamboanga last night to commiserate with the troops there. Twenty-five wounded soldiers and I gave them medals,” Duterte said.

“There will be a division size. Talagang isang division ilagay ko [I will put a division there]. Not only a company, not only a battalion, not a regiment but I’m going to place an entire division for the islands there towards Sabah,” he added.

The President earlier conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu with rank of Kampilan on 23 soldiers wounded in a recent clash with the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu. The slain soldiers were also posthumously awarded by the President.

The planned troop movement to Sulu comes amid the President’s decision to deploy more soldiers and cops to some parts of the country where incidents of lawless violence were reported.

Duterte earlier issued Memorandum Order No. 32 directing additional troops to the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and the Bicol region to prevent the spread of violence.

The government forces have also been reminded to respect the constitutional rights of persons in performing their duty. “No civil or political rights are suspended during the existence of a state fo national emergency on account of lawless violence,” the order read.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/28/duterte-sends-military-division-to-jolo-after-5-soldiers-die-in-clash/