The Philippine Army on Friday has proposed to the provincial government of Basilan the establishment of a Joint Security Task Force to respond to any acts of shooting incidents and other forms of violence that continue to transpire unabated in the province.

101st Infantry (Three Red Arrows) Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon made the suggestion during an emergency meeting with the law enforcement agencies at its military headquarters at Barangay Tabiawan in Isabela City.

Luzon narrated that the discussion focused on enhancing the security procedures and implementing stricter measures of law enforcement to address the criminalities and acts of violence in the province.

Meantime, Basilan Governor Hadjiman S. Hataman-Salliman – who also chairs the Provincial Peace and Order Council — called the meeting after the Basilan Provincial Police Office reported that the number of killing incidents in the province has reached an alarming level during the last quarter of this year.

Hataman asked members of the PPOC to come up with inclusive, preventive, proactive and effective measures to solve the spate of killings in the province during the past few months.

"Rest assured that the Provincial Government of Basilan will support your combined efforts with a common goal to ensure the safety of the Basileños," said Hataman. "Let us put sincerity in our sworn duties to put an end to these spates of shooting incident."

Luzon, on the other hand, stressed that the creation of a task force will enhance the provision of security and intensify law enforcement in Basilan province.

"Let us mobilize our resources and show the people of Basilan that the law enforcement agencies and the security sectors are working collaboratively to sustain the peace in Basilan Province," said Luzon.

He also urged Basileños to support the peace advocacies of the Basilan government and to be vigilant and report any suspicious acts trying to hamper the developmental effort of the government.

According to Luzon, the military in the province is on track to ending the Abu Sayyaf Group problem in Basilan.