Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) and the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation, Eastern Mindanao (DIPO-EM) signed a memorandum of agreement through a Joint Letter Directive during the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council Meeting on Thursday at Grand Menseng Hotel, Davao City.
“This will integrate our actions plus eventually aside from this letter directive, joint command conference, joint assessment, joint command guidance and eventually will have joint campaign planning,” said Lt. General Benjamin Madrigal Jr., Commander of EMC during the press conference held on that event.
“What we signed here today, this will show proof that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is one in all our efforts against criminality, against terrorists, against the New People’s Army,” said Chief Supt. Daniel G. Macatlang , director of DIPO-EM .
The operational directive specified the joint concept and general protocol on focus military operations, law enforcement operations, intelligence operations, countering and preventing violent extremism, community support program, maritime and border security, civil relations program and in securing the different flagship projects in Eastern Mindanao.
Macatlang said that the instruction of the EMC commander can also be applicable to PNP units in EMC area and vice versa.
Madrigal said that both party can now better support one another and the units will be more flexible because if the PNP will need support they can easily contact their counterparts.
The agreement will also help both parties to in tracking suspects who will transfer from one region to another once they commit crime.
The Joint Command Conference was held purposely to review present peace and security situation, update the participants on the Development Plan of Mindanao, develop common understanding on the conflict sensitivity of peace efforts, the dynamics of peace and security, enhance inter-operability and synchronize AFP and PNP efforts in sustaining the gains of peace and security in eastern Mindanao.
