(Updated)
There is no directive from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to disband a military task force in Davao, military officials disclosed on Tuesday, Feb. 6, contrary to the claim of a former Cabinet official.
"Hindi po totoong bubuwagin natin ang Task Force Davao. Instead, magdadagdag pa ho tayo ng mga task forces sa mga lugar na talagang nangangailangan ng pwersa natin para mapanatili ang kapayapaan (There is no truth to the information that we will abolish Task Force Davao. Instead, we will add more task forces in areas that need our presence to maintain peace)," AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. said during his visit to Mavulis Island in Batanes.
Meanwhile, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of AFP public affairs office, said they were "shocked" to learn about ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that Task Force Davao will be abolished.
"Honestly nagulat kami doon (we were shocked by that). We don’t know where it came from basically," Trinidad said.
"We made clarifications and there's no such issuance of any directive for the disbanding of the Task Force Davao," he added.
On Monday, Roque claimed that he received a report that the supposedly "Duterte-loyal" Task Force Davao will be disbanded amid rumors of a supposedly impending arrest by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte is being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes committed under his controversial drug war.
"I received a news that Task Force Davao which has 700 soldiers and created to protect Davao from the threat of terrorism will be disbanded. They know that Task Force Davao is loyal to Duterte," Roque claimed.
Roque added that Brawner went to Davao over the weekend to allegedly formalize the order.
Brawner went to the headquarters of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) in Mawab, Davao de Oro last Feb. 3 but AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said it had nothing to do with the disbandment of Task Force Davao.
Brawner also visited the headquarters of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City; Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) in Zamboanga City; and 101st Infantry Brigade in Isabela City, Basilan over the weekend.
"The chief of staff went to Davao last weekend but his sole purpose was for three things: look into the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief there and how the AFP will assist in the calamities happening, second is to assess the security operations being conducted in Davao, and the third is to look upon the welfare of the troops, and remind them of their unwavering commitment towards being united and professional," Padilla stressed.
The Task Force Davao was established on April 16, 2003 after the terror attacks on the Sasa Airport and Sasa Whar earlier that same year.
The Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), which supervises the Task Force Davao, said the loyalty of the task force lies on the people of Davao and not on one particular political personality.
"Task Force Davao serves as the main effort of Joint Task Force Haribon in counter-terrorism operations and it has been effective in denying activities of terrorist threat groups and significantly maintained the peace, security, and development in Davao City," said EastMinCom spokesperson Col. Rosa Ma. Cristina Rosete-Manuel.
"There are no instructions whatsoever coming from higher headquarters to remove Task Force Davao from its present mandate," she added.
Secession of Mindanao
Meanwhile, the AFP is collaborating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to monitor individuals or groups calling for the separation of Mindanao from the rest of the country.
The PNP said it has deployed intelligence assets to monitor calls for secession.
"We maintain a collaborative and support relationship so we do this with the law enforcement counterparts, the other agencies, and this includes the Philippine National Police," Padilla said.
Last week, Duterte proposed to establish a "separate and independent" Mindanao after expressing disappointment with the administration of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.