Additional marine battalion to tighten security in Palawan

There’s no need to worry.The additional marine battalion that has been deployed to the southern part of the province of Palawan is not here because the marines are planning to launch a military offensive, Commodore Edgardo D. Tamayo, flag officer-in-command of the Naval Forces West (NAVFORWEST), clarified.Tamayo explained that the deployment of the 12th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-12), the full force of which arrived in Puerto Princesa City last November 28, was primarily to tighten security in the province, particularly in the southern part.The increased visibility of government forces where these soldiers will be assigned [may] deter terrorist individuals or groups from committing acts that will disrupt the peace of the province, Tamayo further explained.The MBLT-12 will be setting up a detachment camp in Bgy. Abo-Abo in the municipality of Sofronio Española and will be the primary marine unit that is responsible in keeping the southern part of the province secure from insurgency and the likes.To welcome the personnel of the MBLT-12, who arrived onboard the ship BRP Dagupan (LC 551), the NAVFORWEST headed by Tamayo as the operational commander of the newly-arrived marine battalion, organized a welcome ceremony at the Tidepole Detachment Beaching Area.Major General Juancho M. Sabban, commander of the Western Command (WESCOM) and who himself is a marine soldier, graced the welcome ceremony as the guest of honor. For a very long time, only one marine battalion was being deployed in the province. The additional battalion of marine soldiers was deployed in Palawan in response to the request of the local government to tighten the security in the province.

By Tristan Ray I. Besa
The Palawan Times