Thursday, January 31, 2008 More troops sent to Lanao
ADDITIONAL troops were sent to the Lanao provinces as a deterrent against extortion gangs who have conducted a bombing campaign on the towers of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo).
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon said the Army 104the Brigade, a combat operating unit in the Sulu anti-terror campaign, will be deployed in Lanao del Sur.
He said the Army 104 Brigade composed of the 35th and the 33rd Infantry Battalions will augment the Army 103rd Brigade already stationed in Marawi City. "We assure the residents here that we have enough troops in Lanao," Esperon told reporters in Camp Evangelista on Tuesday.
Aside from the troops, Esperon said TransCo has agreed to finance the deployment of three Cafgu companies that will be assigned to guard its electricity towers. He admitted that the series of bombings that damaged or knocked down ten towers has become a major source of concern.
"We have several suspects identified already and we are working with the police in the filing of cases," Esperon said.
TransCo officials said an extortion gang has been demanding P12 million a month from the state-owned firm.
The bombings did not affect electricity distribution in Mindanao but TransCo officials warned that the situation will turn to worse if the bombings remain undeterred.
