AFP backs deployment of more troops to some areas —Arevalo

The Armed Forces of the Philippines supports Malacañang order to deploy more troops to Samar, Negros, and the Bicol region, and soldiers are waiting for the directive on how to operationalize  Memorandum Order No. 32, AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said Sunday.

Panayam kay AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo tungkol sa Memorandum Order No. 32.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 25, 2018

"We are very supportive of the initiative of the government sa pagsawata ng lawless violence and acts of terror, upang masegurado na hindi kakalat sa iba pang lugar sa ating bansa," Arevalo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB by Benjie Liwanag.

Signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Thursday, MO No. 32 orders the deployment of additional soldiers and policemen to suppress “lawless violence and acts of terror” in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and the Bicol region and “prevent  such violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country.”

But, Arevalo said there is still a need for key planning on the deployment and the troops on the ground are waiting  for the directive from the office of the Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez.

"Pag-aaralan pa ng mabuti ang deployment at kailangan pa ito ng paghahanda, tulad ng paano ang deployment process at paano i-operationalize on the ground ang MO No. 32," he added.

Also, Arevalo pointed out that the operationalization of the order is understood to be a joint undertaking by the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Lacal Government.

Masusing pagpaplano ang kailangan ...joint planning and conferencing between the DND at DILG, Arevalo added.

Under MO 32, the AFP, the PNP, and the Department of Justice (DOJ), in  coordination with other law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community, are ordered to intensify their local and transnational intelligence operations against individuals or groups suspected of, or responsible for, committing or conspiring to commit lawless violence in the country.

Malacañang also called for a “prompt investigation and prosecution” of all individuals or groups apprehended for committing or conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence and enjoined all local government units to give their “full support and cooperation.”

But Malacañang clarified that "no civil or political rights are suspended during the existence of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence."

“In particular, the AFP and PNP are enjoined to observe existing rules and jurisprudence in instances that may justify the implementation of warrantless arrests, searches and seizures, as well as ensure compliance with guidelines for police/military checkpoints and stop-and-frisk situation,” the memorandum states.

“Any AFP or PNP personnel found violating any of the foregoing constitutional rights shall be held administratively, civilly or criminally liable therefore.”  —LBG, GMA News