Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — A military official on Wednesday said he does not see the need for now to place the province of Negros Oriental under military control amid reports of political killings in the area.
“Based on the way I observed things on what happened in the Degamo killing, I think there is no lawless violence yet, which is quite rampant to warrant to put the area under military control,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines Provost Marshal General, BGen. Gerry Pulohanan.
Senator Robinhood Padilla raised the question if government troops must be deployed over the province as the upper chamber continues the hearing on the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“Nais ko po sanang itanong sa atin pong Armed Forces of the Philippines, sa atin pong Konstitusyon, malinaw po doon na sinasabi na kapag ang isang lugar ay pinamumugaran ng ganitong klaseng krimen, pinapayagan po ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas na magtake-over po kayo at ayusin ang lugar na yun. Sa palagay niyo po ba niyo, hindi pa ito napapanahon sa Negros Oriental?” the neophyte lawmaker asked.
[Translation: I just want to ask the Armed Forces of the Philippines, our Constitution says that if these kinds of crime proliferate in an area, the President allows you to take over the area to restore order there. Do you think it’s time for you to do that now given the situation in Negros Oriental?]
Following the March 4 assassination of Degamo, over 10,000 soldiers were deployed to the 2nd and 3rd districts of Negros Oriental to hunt down the suspects behind the murder.
’22’: ‘contentWidth’: ‘100%’ ’embedCode’: ‘
LOOK: Soldiers and military assets of the 11IB (infantry battalion) based in the town of Siaton, Negros Oriental are being readied for deployment in the province following last week's massacre that killed Gov. Roel Degamo and 8 others
📸 Red Caay, Rodrigo Baylon/ CNN Philippines pic.twitter.com/MAzxx0sfkC
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) March 12, 2023
