AFTER some deliberation, the City Peace, Development and Security Council (CPDSC) declared their support yesterday for the institutionalization of Task Force Oro through an agreement with Cagayan de Oro City Hall.
“(To ensure Cagayan de Oro City’s stable peace and order situation), it’s highly recommended that we (sustain this partnership between the city and the Fourth Infantry Division) through a memorandum of agreement that will protect both parties and institutionalize the existence of Task Force Oro as a reliable and credible part of the city’s security cluster,” said Col. Adolfo Espuela Jr., chief of staff of the Philippine Army’s 4th ID during the CPDSC meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Created back in 2017 at the onset of the five-month Marawi City siege, Task Force Oro is a battalion-sized counter-terrorism contingent consisting of various units of the 4th ID.
In the years since Col. Espuela said the Task Force Oro’s role expanded to include augmenting City Hall’s security preparations to providing assistance during emergency relief operations during calamities.
“Even before Task Force Oro was created there were incidents that called (for the creation of a security force) such as the 2013 Limketkai bombing incident that killed six people…even if Cagayan de Oro City is currently classified as a low-security risk, its proximity to high-risk areas and its status as a major urban economic center in Mindanao entails its protection (from criminal and terrorist elements),” Espuela said.
As City Director Jane Docallos of the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) pushed for Task Force Oro’s institutionalization, City Legal Officer Kenneth Tamala — representing Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy — voiced the mayor’s support to ensure the city’s security in order to sustain its economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
But while sectoral leaders such as Imam Mohammad Gondarangin, who represented the Muslim interfaith group and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) lent their support to Task Force Oro, Msgr. Rey Monsanto of the Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese questioned whether Task Force Oro’s functions would overlap with the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo).
This concern was shared by Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez and Executive Director Charmaine Mae Baconga of Balay Mindanao Foundation, who asked that the proposed agreement between the Fourth ID and City Hall on Task Force Oro include provisions that would delineate the task force’s functions.
City police chief Col. Aaron Mandia cited Task Force Oro’s invaluable assistance in their operations.
“Task Force Oro’s assistance in securing our boundaries in Opol, Bugo, Upper Puerto, San Simon, and Indahag (is invaluable). (As regards Msgr. Monsanto’s point) there’s no overlapping of functions since Task Force Oro handles external concerns while we deal with internal (law enforcement),” Mandia said.
Col. Warren Munda, Task Force Oro chief also echoed Mandia’s explanation.
“Task Force Oro continues to exist within the context of (ensuring the city’s security, peace, and development)…the Marawi City siege may be history but we continue to exist because the people of Cagayan de Oro City see our value in helping and complementing to assist the city police in their law enforcement functions (aside from handling external threats),” Munda said.
In pushing for the institutionalization of Task Force Oro, Docallos cited the contingent’s contributions not only in security but even during the city’s Covid-19 pandemic response.
The proposed agreement which includes material support will be submitted to the 20th City Council for review. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
