AFP: No directive to disband Task Force Davao

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denied on Tuesday former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s claim of disbandment of the Davao military task force.

“[T]here is no such issuance of any directive for the disbandment of Task Force Davao,” according to AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad.

Over the weekend, Roque floated the possibility that the Task Force Davao could be disbanded due to its perceived loyalty to former President Rodrigo Duterte.

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“Alam nila na loyal sa mga Duterte itong Task Force Davao, so parang nagkaroon nga ng — well, ‘yan po ang ugong-ugong ngayon — na bubuwagin daw ang task force Davao,” Roque said in his Facebook live on Sunday.

(They know that the Task Force Davao is loyal to the Dutertes, so there were rumblings that the Task Force Davao would be dismantled.)

The task force was established on April 16, 2003, after the terror attacks on the Davao airport and Sasa Wharf in the said city that same year.

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