DILG: No anti-insurgency ops in quake-hit N. Cotabato, Davao del Sur for now

MANILA, Philippines — Government’s anti-insurgency drive will be temporarily suspended in North Cotabato and Davao del Sur, two of the various provinces afflicted by the recent powerful earthquakes in Mindanao.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced this Wednesday, saying it aims to focus all government assets to rescue, rehabilitation, and relief efforts in the quake-stricken southern region in the meantime.

“Hindi gagawin ng DILG kahit kailan na isuspinde ang anti-insurgency drive sa buong bansa. Ginawa lang po ito ng [Secretary Eduardo Año] doon sa quake-stricken areas, in particular, North Cotabato and Davao del Sur,” DILG Undersecretary and Spokesman Jonathan Malaya told reporters in Manila City Hall when asked if Año will suspend DILG’s anti-insurgency campaign.

(DILG will never suspend its anti-insurgency drive in the whole country. Año only ordered its suspension in quake-hit areas, in particular, North Cotabato and Davao Del Sur.)

“Kasi gusto namin lahat ng assets ng gobyerno focus muna sa [Because we want all assets of the government to focus on] recovery, rehabilitation and delivery of relief goods to our stricken countrymen,” Malaya explained.

Malaya, however, clarified that police forces would remain on alert to secure earthquake-hit areas. /kga