The Davao City Council will pass a resolution requesting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to deploy an additional army battalion and two fast boats for to beef up security in the city.
Councilor Nilo Abellera, Jr. said that the army battalion is requested after two battalions from Davao city were transferred elsewhere following the assumption of then Mayor Duterte as Philippine president.
“Before, noong si President Duterte ay mayor pa natin, marami tayong battalion na andito. Noong pag president niya, nakunan tayo ng dalawa. Yung isa, nabalik na. So we’re still requesting for another one na sana mabalik na rin,” Abellera said on Tuesday, during the Pulong-pulong ni Pulong Conference.
Meanwhile, Councilor Abellera added that the pair of fast boats was requested by the City Peace and Order Council for the safety of the coastal areas, which could be a possible entry for lawless armed groups in the city.
According Public Security and Safety Command Center Head Ret. Gen. Benito de Leon, should the request be granted, the battalion will be stationed in the areas where the city lacks security, particularly uptown and midtown Davao.
“We have divided the city into three geographical zones for the military purposes, uptown or the interlands of Paquibato, and adjacent barangays, midtown or the area in Lapanday and other open areas and downtown or the metropolitan city in which the Task force Davao has responsibility.”
Two more resolutions for strengthening the city’s security will be passed before the city council. Councilor Abellera said that the two are still pending before the city legal office and will be passed in next week’s regular session.
The two resolutions are 1) ‘Enacting in behalf of the mayor to enter a Memorandum of Agreement with the 10th Infantry Division for the Philippine Army to organize, train and employ CAFGU active auxiliary companies in Davao City’ and 2)’An ordinance requesting the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to conduct joint checkpoints for the safety of the constituents.’
