THE Joint Task Force-Negros assured the residents not to worry about the deployment of troops in Negros Oriental following the assassination of the late Governor Roel Degamo.
Major Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of JTF-Negros, said in media interviews that they acknowledged the concern of some residents in Negros Oriental over the number of checkpoints setup in the province.
He gave an assurance to the public that they have nothing to worry about, as he is asking for their cooperation in resolving the crime incidents in the province.
He pointed out that the deployment of additional troops in Negros Oriental showed the seriousness of the national government's efforts to resolve the violence as well as to bring lawless elements to justice.
Around 300 troops have been deployed to the province to secure Negros Island.
The soldiers include the elite Light Reaction Company of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who are highly trained in counterterrorism operations.
Troops have been deployed to 21 areas in Negros Oriental to conduct joint security checkpoints with the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as to hunt down the remaining suspects in the Degamo assassination.