AN OFFICIAL of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) Tuesday, November 29, said the military will be beefing up security measures in Nothern Mindanao after a bomb-explosion that injured 7 members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and two other soldiers in Marawi City.
Joe Patrick Martinez, 4ID spokesperson, said the military is intensifying the monitoring of the 4ID boundaries in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental to prevent a spillover of violence between the state security forces and the Maute local terror group in Butig, Lanao del Sur.
Martinez said checkpoints will be put in place in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the national highways under their jurisdiction.
Military presence will also be visible in the vital installations such as the seaports, airports, and bus terminals.
“Andyan ang ating presensya to monitor hopefully walang spillover. Mahirap na din maging kumpyansa (Our presence is there to monitor, hopefully there will be no spillover. It will be troublesome if we’re confident),” Martinez said.
Cagayan de Oro City Police Office spokesperson Allan Curato, likewise, said the city has been placed on full alert status and police ordered to establish security checkpoints.
Curato said leaves for policemen have been temporarily canceled and policemen directed to render service especially during the night.
“Naa directive nga atong office personnel mo-render og duty (There’s directive in our office personnel to render on duty) to maintain peace and order especially sa gabii tungaon lang nga naay mabilin sa station (on night there should be someone in the station),” Curato said.
“Dako og impact sa city if malusutan ta busa intensified atong security (It’s a huge impact in the city if we will be infiltrated that’s why our security is intensified),” Curato added.
President Rodrigo Duterte, on the other hand, hinted Tuesday that other measures may have to be employed by government in dealing with the Maute group.
“Let us befriend [the Maute group] to avoid scuffle.”
This was what President Rodrigo Duterte told reporters at the sideline of the inauguration of the mega drug rehabilitation center at Camp Fort Magsaysay.
Duterte made the statement even after seven of his security aides sustained injuries in a bomb explosion while on their way to Marawi, Lanao del Sur.
Prior to this, the President admitted there was an ongoing war against the military and the Maute group.
He, however, said peace could not be achieved if he would let the government forces proceed to its operations against the bandits.
“Mind you that Maute, they're fighting the government now and there's frustrating battle going on,” he said.
“There will be no war... What can we get in return [if we fight them]?” he added.
Despite the incident and the advice to cancel his visit, Duterte said he would still go to Marawi.
Duterte said he would also visit the wounded members of the Presidential Security Group, as well as the two regular troops escorting them. (With a report from Sunnex)