Department of National Defense officer-in-charge (OIC) Senior Undersecretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. on Saturday, March 11, assured the continued support of the DND and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Special Joint Task Force, in accordance with the verbal instructions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to suppress lawless violence in Negros Oriental.
“Under the orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we have organized a Joint Task Force to step up the law enforcement operations of the AFP and PNP in Negros to implement the clear directive of the President to ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” Galvez, who visited the wake of Gov. Roel Degamo at the Provincial Capitol in Dumaguete City, said.
Galvez, along with (AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres C. Centino and Philippine National Police (PNP) OIC Police Lt. Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia, said that the task force will end incidents of violence, following the fatal shooting of Degamo and eight others in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, on March 4.
“The Joint AFP-PNP law enforcement operations, under the supervision of the inter-agency task force headed by the Secretary of DILG, myself, and Secretary Remulla, aim to speed up the suppression of impunity in the entire island, and give justice to the families and loved ones of those who were slain the in the attack against Governor Degamo,” Galvez said.
The Special Task Force Negros designated Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. as the chairperson and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and the OIC, DND as co-vice chairpersons.
The respective agency heads of the PNP, AFP, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) shall be designated as Task Force Commanders.
Sermonia reaffirmed the PNP’s cooperation with other agencies, as well as their continued investigations on the shooting of Degamo and other civilians.
“Tuloy-tuloy rin ang ating operations gaya ng paggawa ng mga search warrants, massive checkpoints jointly with the AFP para manumbalik ang civility at tranquility dito sa Negros Oriental,” Sermonia said.
Galvez and Centino also met with the slain governor’s wife, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo.
Galvez assured the families of those who were slain that swift justice will be given and peace will once again reign in the province of Negros.
“The President is very firm in his guidance to solve the case as swiftly as possible, and bring these lawless elements to justice,” Galvez said.
He also said that one of the instructions of the President is to dismantle all the tentacles of violence in the area.
“With that said, there is always time for reckoning and this day is that time,” he added.
Centino reiterated that this task force was created so that there will be a “unity of effort” in restoring peace and confidence in the people of Negros Oriental. He said that the task force is composed of two brigades with three battalions each. These units are currently doing specific tasks, but in light of the incident, they were given new instructions to give additional support to law enforcement operations of the PNP.
“We tasked the forces currently assigned here in Negros to make sure that all of them are aligned and they understand what they are supposed to be doing. We also deployed these forces in areas where we think they are needed the most,” Centino said.
“The deployment of the forces in Negros is to assure the people that the government is here, is working, and is making sure that peace and order will prevail in this part of the country,” the AFP Chief of Staff added.
Mayor Degamo expressed her appreciation to the officials for their swift response to the situation.
“It has given us a ray of hope that soon we will be able to see justice,” she said, adding that she expressed her gratitude to President Marcos . for personally visiting them and assuring the people of Negros that justice will be served.
Degamo stressed that unmasking the culprit and mastermind will bring peace again to the once peaceful province.
Galvez encouraged everyone, especially those who have information on the ongoing investigation, to give the authorities the necessary information and rest assured that the government will act on it accordingly.
“This task force has a unified command center for more accessibility to the civilians. Rest assured that all the information gathered will be used to get the justice everyone deserves,” he said.*
Source: Department of National Defense Facebook page