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Thursday, September 01, 2005
'Boracay safe despite pull-out of army troops'
By Ruby P. Silubrico
IT CAN'T lower our guards in Boracay Island."
This was the reaction of Col. Gregorio Fajardo, Task Force Panay (TFP) Commander, on the report that the Armed Forces Philippines (AFP) Central Command is planning to pull out army troops from Boracay Island, the country's premier resort.
However, Fajardo admitted that he has not yet received the final instruction from the Central Command regarding this.
But, he said whether the said plan would materialize or not, Boracay is still well guarded and safe from terror attacks.
More than a platoon of the army troops under the 47th Infantry Battalion has been the partner of the Philippine National Police (PNP) especially on intelligence work.
Still, the PNP is the frontline force or the one visible in guarding Boracay, with the AFP as the supporting unit.
Fajardo said that he will support and respect whatever the higher command decides.
The AFP believes that the pull-out of the troops will not give considerable gain on the number of soldiers necessary for the operational requirements of TFP. The TFP, being an operationally controlled tactical unit like the 12th IB, 47th IB, and three reconnaissance companies are enough to address the insurgency situation in the island.
Boracay caters to about 330,000 tourists both local and international every year and earns tourist receipts of P7.8 billion.
On the other hand, Major Lyndon Sollesta, spokesperson of the 3ID said that with the recent reports on armed groups or terrorism that are now threatening Western Visayas, the 3ID under the leadership of Major General Alphonsus Crucero, will not jeopardize the security of the islands here.
This is in adherence to the presidential directive to ensure the safety and security of the local and foreign tourists that frequent the area.
Sollesta said terrorism recognizes no boundaries and that no one would not know when it would strike like what happened to the bombing of the m/v Dona Ramona in Basilan, which wounded innocent civilians.
He said terrorism is a product of a well-planned, imminent and meticulous plot to create a dent on the reputation of the government and the military as protector of the people.
(September 1, 2005 issue)
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