Article by:
Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The provincial government of Sulu, in partnership with the 11th Infantry Division (ID), continues to fortify security measures to deter atrocities by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the province.
Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, the 11ID commander, said Friday Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan has tasked the mayors of the 19 towns to develop a project to strengthen the province’s maritime borders.
“The project which will be called ‘Bantay Dagat (Sea Guards)’ will involve the municipal and barangay local government units (LGUs),” Gonzales, also the Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said in a statement.
Gonzales said municipal mayors and barangay officials were assigned to recruit fishermen or seafarer volunteers who would conduct maritime patrols in collaboration with 11ID troopers to help improve border protection against ASG bandits.
The Bantay Dagat will also be used for disaster risk reduction and management in time calamities in the maritime and coastal areas of the province, Gonzales said.
He said the additional security measures are aimed at increasing the confidence of the residents as well as attracting investors to the province.
Meanwhile, he said 299 privates joined the ranks of the 11ID, through special enlistment, and took oath Thursday to dedicate their lives in service of the nation.
Most of them are Tausugs, who either have special skills or have served as members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary or Army reservists.
Apart from them, Gonzales said there are also 221 new privates undergoing a 60-day infantry orientation course (IOC) and another 300 civilian-volunteers who are currently training to become reservists.
The IOC is a prerequisite before the newly-graduate soldiers get deployed to the different line units of the 11ID.
“Overall, we have 820 men and women ready to serve the nation wearing the military uniform. We will continue to recruit and train to fill up the manning of our newly created infantry division,” Gonzales said.
President Rodrigo Duterte, accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, led the activation on Dec. 17, 2018, of the 11ID, which is dedicated to fighting the Islamic State-affiliated terrorist groups in the region.
“We are at the forefront of ensuring security and we will tirelessly collaborate with the LGUs when it comes to humanitarian development and economic initiatives,” Gonzales said. (PNA)
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