QUEZON CITY, Sept. 25 (PIA) -- Government officials expressed confidence that with the reactivation of a combined anti-kidnapping task force will help establish peace and stability in Mindanao.
Government officials led by Department of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban, and Philippine National Police Chief Nicanor Bartolome on Thursday, September 22 formally reactivated the Joint PNP-AFP Task Force Ranao in Marawi City.
PNP chief Bartolome said the reactivation of the joint task force in Central Mindanao manifests the strong-willed response of the government to fight criminal syndicates and armed groups who are behind kidnapping incidents in Cotabato City and other provinces of Central Mindanao.
“Task Force Ranao manifests the commitment of both the police and military to lay foundations of peace and order in Mindanao that will eventually allow socio-economic development initiatives of government to take place in the promise land,” Bartolome said.
The PNP also cited that local government and community support, as well as police and military partnerships, are tried and tested formula in ensuring public safety.
According to the PNP, the creation of Task Force Ranao is stipulated in the Joint PNP-AFP Letter of Instruction No. 01-2011 issued in May this year upon instructions of President Benigno S. Aquino III to stem the rising cases of kidnapping in Central Mindanao.
Deputy Director for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao (DIPO-WM) chief Superintendent Francisco Cristobal was named Task Force commander and will be joined by Col. Daniel Lucero, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade act as Deputy Task Force Commander.
Meanwhile, Bartolome said the police component of the Task Force will include police commandos of the Special Action Force (SAF) and the Regional Public Safety Battalions of Police Regional Office 12 and ARMM.
Likewise, intelligence and investigative support will come from the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), Intelligence Group (IG), and backed by a legal component from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and PNP Legal Service. (PNP/PIA-NCR/RJB/JEG)
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