CEBU, Philippines - Starting next week, at least 88 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be visible in Cebu City’s public areas such as major roads, terminals, ports and malls, including barangays with high concentration of illegal activities.
This after the Office of the President approved the City Council’s request for AFP personnel to augment security detail in the city.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña said eight of these AFP personnel will be assigned to Barangay Ermita, along with two agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency, following reports that the barangay is infested with drugs.
“Because they were deputized by PDEA in the anti-drug campaign. We do not have enough policemen. So we are putting soldiers. They will start next week siguro. They will live there (in Ermita),” he said.
Osmeña, Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor on peace and order, and AFP officials met yesterday to map out deployment plan for “Task Force Cebu.”
Colonel Noel Baluyan, head of the task force, said they will prioritize those barangays with reported illegal activities.
“Yung mga barangay kung saan meron high level of criminalities, pupunta ang mga AFP dun with the PNP in joint operation, including the PDEA, because I understand may mga drug problem doon,” he said.
Baluyan, however, clarified that the police will still lead anti-crime operations and the PDEA will still be primarily responsible for anti-drug operations.
AFP personnel deployed in the city will be allowed to carry long firearms but not for combat purposes.
Superintendent Artemio Ricabo, Cebu City Police Office deputy director for administration, hopes that the community, particularly in Ermita, will gradually learn to accept the military's presence.
Tumulak, meanwhile, said deploying the AFP personnel is part of the mayor’s strategy to boost public confidence in law enforcers. (FREEMAN)