PRO 11 chief defends P1.6-B Davao Region anti-insurgency fund

Police Regional Office XI chief Police Brigadier General Filmore Escobal on Tuesday defended the inclusion of Davao City in the barangay development program of the anti-insurgency council with an allocation of P1.6 billion.

In a press conference, Escobal said the inclusion of Davao City in the BDP is due to the presence of armed rebel groups in the Davao Region that are supposedly threatening the city.

“Itong funding na ito ay mga pondo na ilalagak or gagamitin doon sa lugar na natapos na po ‘yong operations at clearing ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at Philippine National Police,” he said.

“Meaning, these barangays, in the case of Region 11, na-clear na po ito ng military at tsaka ng ating PNP sa mga pananakot at mga aktibidades ng (New People’s Army) so nararapat lang na buhusan ito ng mga proyekto para ma-sustain po natin ‘yong governance doon sa barangay na ‘yon kung saan matagal silang inimpluwensyahan o kaya napigilan ang development doon dahil nga sa presence ng mga NPA,” he added.

Escobal also denied that the fund is being used as “generals’ pork barrel.”

“Ang (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) funding po is actually a development fund. Hindi ito gagamitin ng military at police sa kanilang police operations,” he said.

“‘Yong sinasabi na generals’ pork barrel, hindi po totoo ‘yon kasi ang mag-i-implement po nito ay mga local government units ay ‘yong barangay po ‘yong mag-i-identify kung saan, anong mga kailangan nilang lugar,” he added.

Escobal said that the allegations that the fund is being used as “generals’ pork” is “just a mere propaganda.”

“Wala pong participation ang military at PNP dito sa pag-implement ng ELCAC other than ina-identify namin kung saan ‘yong na-clear na ng AFP and PNP sa impluwensya ng mga NPA,” he said.

Earlier, Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite called out the allocation of the anti-insurgency task force’s budget for Davao City, expressing doubts over claims the area is infiltrated by armed communist rebels.

Bayan Muna said the NTF-ELCAC has an allocation of P16.4 billion for the BDP.

Citing the Department of Budget and Management's Local Budget Circular No. 135, Bayan Muna said Davao Region will receive P4.3 billion, with Davao City getting almost 40% of it with the P1.64-billion allocation.

“It seems the Duterte camp has started oiling its electoral campaign machinery through the generals’ pork barrel lodged in the NTF-ELCAC, and of course their bailiwick Davao, both city and region, gets the lion’s share,” Gaite said in a statement.

In November 2020, members of the House Makabayan Bloc also questioned the allocation for several barangays in Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. also defended Davao City’s inclusion in the BDP, citing economic activities, size of landmass, rural areas, and the presence of armed rebel groups in the region. — DVM, GMA News