AN OFFICIAL of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao said the presence of soldiers in anti-illegal drugs operations will be a welcome relief and will be a big help to the law enforcers.
Police Superintendent Surki Sereñas, PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson said this set-up was proposed even before Duterte asked for a six months extension to win the drug war.
"Gipangayo gyud ni nato kay tan-aw nato dili ta kasugakod nga kita lang ug kinahanglan nato ug support, but we are doing our best, sa karon nangayo ug lugway atong presidente, gaan-gaan na gyud ang trabaho kay naa nay atong katimbang," Sereñas said.
"So far sa atong talks with our Army officials, very supportive kaayo sila, this is a new battlefield for them so na-excite pud sila," Sereñas added.
Meanwhile, a representative of militant groups said while they welcome the participation of soldiers in the drug war, they are a little apprehensive over the possibility that activists could eventually become targets.
"Ang mga progresibo nagakampanya man usab kita batok sa illegal nga droga pero ang atong gikabalak-an, basin unya ang mga progresibong grupo madalahig sa Tokhang. Basin butangan nalang unya ug shabu ang bulsa unya i-tokhang na dayon, dako gayud ang posibilidad kay kining military have done worse to activists, young and old," Wildon Barros, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) group.
"Tarungon pud unta na pagdumala sa operasyon ug sundon gayud ang giingon nila nga rules of engagement," Barros added.
But Sereñas assured the public that the soldiers’ presence is only to frighten drug offenders.
"We continue to emphasize that ang reason for the soldiers augmentation is for deterrence, to let these drug personalities think that this is not an ordinary force against them so they should surrender," Sereñas said.
Sereñas said while guidelines are still being finalized, soldiers have started joining their operations particularly in Bukidnon and in the Caraga region.
