DAVAO CITY—President Duterte told military intelligence officers to work closely with other intelligence agencies and other stakeholders to ensure better collection and processing of intelligence information in the face of heightening terror threats.
Duterte issued the call in his speech before the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) First Quarter 2018 Command Conference and Sergeants Major Forum at the Grand Regal Hotel here last Saturday.
“I could not stress enough the importance of timely, accurate and useful intelligence in securing the country and protecting our people from all enemies of the state,” he said.
“May you further improve your intelligence and counterintelligence operations, and continue to work closely with other intelligence units and concerned stakeholders in the crucial tasks of gathering and processing intelligence information,” Duterte said.
The directive addresses criticism about exclusivity of intelligence information gathered by the different intelligence services and units of the military, the police and other agencies, which were often not shared with each other.
He lauded the intelligence service and senior enlisted leaders, though, “for their efforts in defending and protecting national security,” and commended them for their achievements in fighting terrorism and other enemies of the state.
“The government credits the successful apprehension and neutralization of several high-value communist and Islamic terrorists to your effective intelligence operations,” he said.
He added the nation’s continuing struggle for a peaceful, stable and secure Philippines “rests greatly on the two pillars of the AFP gathered here today: the Isafp, which heads the intelligence efforts of the AFP, and the Sergeant Majors, which collectively provide steady operational leadership to the entire noncommissioned corps of the AFP.”
His directive also to further improve intelligence operations came as he repeatedly warned about the increasing threat of terrorism, which he said on several occasions as becoming the major threat to the country’s security.
“As we consolidate our gains in this time of rapid progress and growing strength, I count on the Isafp and our Sergeant Majors to propel our country toward real and lasting peace,” he added.
“With you by our side, our dream of a truly strong Philippines will be achieved in the next few years.”
Duterte assured them of the administration’s full support to the military and its modernization.
