Philippine Army personnel have been deployed to tourist destinations in Bohol amid threats by organized crime groups to disrupt peace and order in the province, said an Army officer.
According to Lieutenant Col. Dodjie Belloga, commander of the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion (IB), soldiers have been stationed at tourist spots such as the Balicasag Island in Panglao.
Belloga said that soldiers in Balicasag are well-equipped with long high-caliber firearms to prevent and fight off attempts of syndicates to conduct illegal activities.
However, the Army official noted that they have not received direct information on serious kidnap threats in the province.
Soldiers from the 47th IB continued to support the Philippine National Police (PNP) in implementing tight security measures after the whole country was put under Alert Level 3 after the foiled bombing near the US Embassy in Manila.
Belloga also noted that soldiers have been working in coordination with the Bohol PNP in conducting patrols and implementing checkpoints across the province. (Allen Doydora)