Special Forces personnel deployed to Cebu Province

CEBU, Philippines – The newly assigned commander of the Bohol-based 2nd Special Forces Battalion deployed several of his personnel to Cebu last week to help in countering insurgency and terrorism.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, former spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and assigned as commander of the battalion since July, said he deployed a number of its personnel to Cebu to maintain its being insurgent-free.

"We see the importance of Cebu as a tourist destination so we have to safeguard that and make sure that Cebu, as insurgency-free, ma-maintain 'yun," Brawner told The FREEMAN.

He said their unit is assisting the 78th Infantry Battalion which is the only battalion in the province.

Brawner said this was the first time following a long period that their battalion deployed its personnel. He said his personnel are currently deployed from the north to the southern part of the province.

The personnel deployed are staying at the Central Command headquarters in Camp Lapu-lapu, he said.

His area of operations, he said, covers Bohol and Cebu and the entire province of Eastern Visayas.

Brawner, who has been spokesperson of AFP for three years, replaced Col. Alfredo Sanchez in the battalion. (FREEMAN)