Luzon cops sent to Mindanao to augment government troops
Policemen from Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regions have been sent to Mindanao to augment government troops in its peacekeeping efforts as martial law on the island entered its second month.
According to Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, Calabarzon regional police public information officer, said 241 policemen from the region would perform law enforcement and public safety functions such as checkpoints, and search and rescue operations in Marawi City, where government troops are battling terrorists.
The police offices of Quezon, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal sent 34 personnel each. Batangas sent 35 policemen while the regional police, 70.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 after Islamic State-inspired terror groups attacked Marawi and took control of some sections of the city.
Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon police director, said the province’s contingent was “well-prepared” to carry out any given task in Marawi.
“We have to do our share to defend the country from terror threats,” he said.
During the send-off ceremony for the troops, Chief Supt. Ma.O Aplasca, regional police director, asked them “to bring the banner of Calabarzon high.”
“We have to defend our country. We have our sworn duty that we took when we joined this noble profession,” he said.
Aplasca said while law enforcement functions would be the police’ main task, he said the troops were “prepared for the worst scenario when they would be deployed to the frontline.”
In Central Luzon, 70 members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion were sent to Mindanao on Tuesday to augment government troops there.
Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, regional police director, said members of the team were trained in tactical and combatant courses, as well as a character and aptitude training course.
Aquino said their deployment, initially to Cagayan de Oro City, was covered by a 2009 Philippine National Police circular which prescribed the “tour of duty of PNP personnel deployed in armed conflict areas, counterinsurgency operations and other similar serious threats to national security.”
They will remain in Mindanao “until the situation normalizes,” he said.
Their deployment came a week after the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division sent 100 members of the 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company to Marawi City, ground zero of government clashes with the Maute terror group. —Delfin T. Mallari Jr. and Tonette Orejas
