By Mai Gevera

Davao City (25 July) -- One mechanized infantry battalion arrived in Eastern Mindanao Command with tanks and armored vehicles and two artillery battery with howitzer tubes all coming from Luzon.

This is in response to the local government officials' clamor for a stronger security force with the growing number of atrocities in Region XI.

"These criminal acts have seriously threatened the livelihood of the people as the communist terrorists attack establishments that have been providing jobs to our people," said Eastmincom Commander Major General Armando L. Cunanan.

The military claimed that recent atrocities in the area threatened the people of Davao on the possible return of the chaotic situation during the 80's and hence there is a need to launch intensified operations on known locations of bandits who kept on intimidating the people and extorting their earnings.

"The NPA of before no longer exist, what we are confronting today are extortionists, murderers, and robbers," he said.

A bombing incident happened at Digos bus terminal yesterday (July 24) at about 11:50 a.m. Passengers aboard Metro Shuttle Bus with bus number LDS 506 bound for Davao were wounded after a bomb believed planted by terrorists exploded.

Meanwhile, Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas who is also the new Regional Peace and Order Council Chair for Region XI stressed that insurgency can hardly be totally solved by 2010.