According to 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Jon Aying, security task forces in both Panay and Negros should be handled at all levels.
“From the regional level, this will go down to different provinces, which will cascade to the cities and municipalities and down to the barangays, purok, or sitios,” he explained.
Aying said local government units and civil society groups must coordinate and collaborate with law enforcement in order to integrate assets and capabilities to deter security threats.
He noted last month’s attack on the Maasin Municipal Police Station by the New People’s Army (NPA) and the recent apprehension of three suspected Maute group members in Iloilo.
Aside from communists and terrorists, the 3ID chief said security task forces will also tackle illegal drugs and disaster resiliency./WDJ