DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio wants the battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to stay in the city despite the instruction for immediate deployment of troops to war-torn areas in Mindanao.
“I have read through instructions and there was an instruction for the AFP and PNP (Philippine National Police) for their personnel to concentrate on those areas,” she said in an interview with reporters last Friday, November 23.
“Nagpahatag nako ug general comment diri sa AFP nato sa 10th ID na dili ko musugot, na kung pwede na dili sa nila tanggalon ang battallions na naa sa Davao because we are still working on our peace and order (I gave a general comment on the AFP in 10th ID not to pull out the battalions in the city since they are still working on the peace and order in the city),” she said, adding that that the city is still working out peace and order issues in Calinan, Marilog, Paquibato and Toril.
Last November 23, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Memorandum Order (MO) 32, directing the immediate deployment of troops to Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Bicol in an effort to stop lawless violence and acts of terror in these areas.
“Kung pwede dili lang ang mnga battalions na naa sa Davao ang ilang ibalhin for Samar and Bicol (If possible, battalions assigned in Davao City should stay and not be pulled out to concentrate in Samar and Bicol),” Duterte-Carpio said.
Meanwhile, the mayor also said she has no say whether martial law will be extended as she only follows the mandate of the national government. (LHC)