Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that Malacanang’s issuance of Memorandum Order No. 32 deploying military and police forces to suppress violence and acts of terror in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Bicol region and prevent such violence spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country will only be good for six months.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (Office of the Secretary of National Defense / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview over ANC, Lorenzana said they might send Special Forces and Rangers to help supress violence there.
“We will not be permanently moving infantry battalions there but we might bring in Special Forces and Rangers and also the PNP-SAF (Philippine National Police-Special Action Force) for temporary operations only, maybe six months,” Lorenzana said.
“The president just wants to reinforce the troops to pacify the area so that we can pursue our infrastructure building program,” he added.
Lorenzana said its important to send in additional troops to prevent Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) from further conducting attacks in Negros, Bicol and Samar.
“Samar, Bicol and Negros are still problematic, as far as we are concerned they are strong. But in other parts of the country like Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and other areas, (its) minimized already. They can no longer recruit people from these places so they’re targeting IPs (Indigeneous Peoples),” Lorenzana said.
Lorenzana said this is evident follpwing the arrest of five regular members of the NPA from Davao Oriental.
“They don’t speak Ilocano but Visayan. We see the dwindling appeal of the NPA in Northern Luzon,” he added.
In Memorandum Order No. 32, President Rodrigo Duterte has also authorized intensified intelligence operations against persons or groups behind the acts of lawless violence as well as their prompt investigation and prosecution.
The memorandum reinforcing the guidelines for the AFP and PNP in the implementation of measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea upon the orders of the President last November 22. It was released to the public Friday.
“There is a need to reinforce the directive of the President to prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property and bring the country back to a state of complete normalcy as quick as possible,” the order read.
“The Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government shall coordinate he additional deployment of additional forces of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) to suppress violence and acts of terror in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Bicol region and prevent such violence spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country,” it added.
The memorandum order cited that there has been a recent occurrence of a “number of sporadic acts of violence” committed by lawless groups in the concerned areas.
Under MO 32, the military, police and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have been directed “to intensify local and transnational intelligence operations against individuals or groups suspected of, or responsible for, conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence in the Philippines.”
The concerned authorities must also step up “the prompt investigation and prosecution of all individuals or groups apprehended for committing or conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence.”
Local government units were enjoined give their “full support and utmost cooperation” to ensure the effective implementation of the order.
The military and police have also been reminded to respect and give due regard to the constitutional rights of persons in implementation of MO 32.
“No civil or political rights are suspended during the existence of a national state of emergency on account of lawless violence,” the order read.
“In particular, the AFP and PNP are enjoined to observe existing rules and jurisprudence in instances that may justify the implementation of warrantless arrests, searches and seizures as well as ensure compliance of guidelines for police/military checkpoints and stop-and-frisk situations,” it added.
The Palace warned that any policeman or soldier violating such rights would face administrative, civil or criminal liability.
MO 32 cited that the President issued Proclamation No. 55 in 2016 declaring a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao and called out the AFP and PNP to suppress such activity and prevent its spread elsewhere in the country.
It also mentioned MO 3 issued in 2016 that provided guidelines for the AFP and PNP for the implementation of the President’s Proclamation 55.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/12/26/presidents-order-deploying-troops-to-four-areas-only-for-6-months-lorenzana/
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