TASK FORCE DAVAO | Brawner denies reports on the dismantling of the army task force in Davao

February 6, 2024 , 06:17 PM

By Manny Mogato, News5 editor-at-large

(February 6, 2024) – The Armed Forces on Tuesday denied reports on the possible dismantling of an Army task force in Davao, the head of the 170,000-member military said, calming fears of supporters of a former president it could signal his arrest by an international criminal court.

General Romeo Brawner told journalists the military would break up Davao City’s Army task force, an anti-insurgency unit keeping peace with the national police in the country’s third-largest city.

“Hindi po totoong bubuwa gin natin yung Task Force Davao,” Brawner said. “Magdadagdag pa ho tayo ng mga task forces sa mga lugar na talagang nangangailangan ng pwersa natin para mapanatili natin yung kapayapaan,”

Brawner did not elaborate. His statements were enough to douse rumors spread by a lawyer that dismantling the task force could be a prelude to Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.

On Facebook Live, Duterte’s former spokesman, Harry Roque, said he got a phone call last week from his former boss that he had received information that he could be arrested anytime.

“Tatapatin ko kayo. Hindi ako nakatulog kasi tinawagan ako ni Tatay Digong,” Roque said on Sunday. “At ang sabi niya nakakuha siya ng impormasyon na anytime daw, baka siya arestuhin.”

Speculations about the impending arrest grew when Roque asked around and learned the 700-member Task Force Davao would be disbanded.

“Kumpirmado na alam na ng mga Task Force Davao na parang may order na bubuwagin na sila. So hindi natin alam kung ano mangyayari sa mga susunod na mga araw,” Roque said, adding the troops were known loyal to Duterte.

However, Roque did not reveal his sources, and the military command in the region was silent about the report.

Then, General Brawner visited the Davao region for a command visit to inspect how troops were responding to the severe flooding in southern Mindanao.

Political analysts said Roque has been trying to muddle the issue, spreading disinformation and propaganda to keep the former president relevant.

Duterte had fired the opening salvo in the word war with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, accusing him of drug use.

The breakup of the Marcos-Duterte could cause political instability ahead of the midterm elections next year.

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