Monday, September 1, 2008

Navy Patrol Boat To Stop MILF Spillover

Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado called on the police and military forces to intensify their gate-keeping strategy with the possible spillover of Mindanao conflict, as he also raised alarm on possible reentry of insurgents who had already fled the province.

      He raised the concern during the special meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Thursday in Trinidad.

      In fact, the governor said he will include the concern in the subject matters during his meeting tomorrow with Philippine Navy Admiral Golez and Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) General Manager Mark Lapid in Manila, though the meeting was intended to discuss the proposed establishment of marine parks/sanctuaries in Balicasag Island in Panglao, and Pamilacan Island in Baclayon.

      Aside from purposes of protecting the marine resources in the area, the governor said he will push for consideration of security matters that may maximize the naval patrol in the area.

      Aumentado wants all points of entry to Bohol closed to return of insurgents and spillover from government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) conflict in Mindanao.

      "I understand that Col. Raoul Reyes has an additional company of the special forces will replace the 43rd IB. That is a welcome development. But, again, we shall not rest on our laurel. While it is true that under the Team Bohol- -the military, the civil government and the private sector, we succeeded to dismantle troops of the NPAs in the province of Bohol. But then because of this development, still there is the tendency for those rebels now outside Bohol to return," Aumentado told members of the PPOC.

      As he solicited further efforts to maintain the province's peace and order situation, Aumentado said, "we must have to be on guard all the time especially in our coastal area, of which Trinidad is one of the vulnerable ends. We should consider that the situation should be properly watched by us. And let us remember also that we have several brother Boholanos in the areas of conflict in Mindanao, so there is a possibility that some of them will return to the province."

      Col. Raoul Reyes, commander of 802nd Infantry Battallion, assured though, that they have one company of special forces that replaced the 43rd IB that was sent to Mindanao.

      He also reported during the PPOC meeting that they had already organized Integrated Territorial Security System (ITSS) or the expanded Bantay Bayan units in 74 barangays in 12 towns- -four barangays in Pilar, 12 in Mabini, three in Ubay, five in Alicia, four in San Miguel, five in Inabanga, one in Bien Unido, 29 in Buenavista, four in Catigbian, four in Danao, one in Dagohoy, and two in Talibon.

      For the period, July-August this year, the anti-government activities had decreased by 30 percent compared to the period, May-June.- By Angeline Valencia

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