THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) has requested a C-130 aircraft from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to transport 225 fully-equipped police personnel from two regional offices in Luzon.
The letter request, obtained by TIMES on Sunday, was addressed to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner through Maj. Gen. Jimmy Larida, the deputy chief of staff for operations, J3, AFP, and dated Sept. 5.
The letter designated Major Maria Eleanor Adaoag, assistant chief of the Special Operations Division, as the focal person for the purpose.
“We respectfully request the availability of a C-130 aircraft to facilitate the transport of 225 fully equipped, PCO-led PNP personnel from PROS 3 and 4A, from Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, to Davao City Airport at the earliest possible time,” the letter stated.
The letter was signed by PNP acting director for operations, Brig. Gen. Nicolas Salvador.
TIMES contacted Brawner on Sunday afternoon to inquire whether the request had been granted but received no response as of press time.
Additionally, when asked if there had been a C-130 arrival from Pasay to Davao, Eastern Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Rex Luis Bergante told TIMES they would need to check the matter.
TIMES also reached out to PRO XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey regarding the matter, but she said she had no information to share.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. clarified that soldiers were deployed to assist the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI at the request of the police in the ongoing search for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and four other co-accused.
“The Philippine National Police requested deputization to support them in relieving and augmenting their personnel, so the AFP Chief of Staff and the PNP discussed it,” Teodoro told reporters during an ambush interview at the Eastern Mindanao Command’s 18th Founding Anniversary celebration in Camp Panacan on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
When asked about the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) role in enforcing the arrest warrant, Teodoro stated, “As deputized agencies of the Philippine National Police, we will cooperate with all government agencies in serving processes of the law.”
Regarding the AFP’s specific role in serving the arrest warrant, Teodoro emphasized established protocols. “That is part of law enforcement operations; we have protocols that the police and AFP follow.”
During the Davao Peace and Security press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 4, EastMinCom spokesperson Major Salvacion Evangelista clarified the soldiers wouldn’t be deployed at the same time and that their marching order was to avoid direct participation in the police operation at KOJC
“Our soldiers are there to maintain peace and security and also do security patrols near the areas of KOJC,” Evangelista said.
