ILIGAN CITY— In an official travel dubbed by his critics as ‘Junket’, President Rodrigo Duterte brought with him an army officer from Marawi City as resource speaker for security concerns in Japan.
Colonel Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army was handpicked by Duterte to join to share information and security concerns about Marawi and Lanao del Sur.
Duterte arrived in Japan Tuesday evening for a four-day working visit.
Brawner, a silent but sharp military officer who endures media pressures during the Marawi seige, was among the highlight of the Japan travel.
Brawner said the Japan trip is not a junket but a four-day work load for every member of the delegation.
Brawner’s unit has jurisdiction of the whole Lanao del Sur–including Marawi City–is at the forefront of the military’s continuing campaign to run after the remnants, followers, and supporters of the Islamic State-allied extremists.
In May 2018, the governments of Japan and the Philippines formalized the 2-billion yen grant for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi.
“Thus, the security in the area is an utmost concern for them (Japanese government),” Brawner said.
Brawner was the spokesperson of the former Joint Task Force (JTF) Marawi that oversaw the government’s messaging in both national and international media at the height of the Marawi siege.
When the JTF Marawi was deactivated, he took over as Regiment commander of the Civil Military Operations Group before he assumed as commander of the 103rd Brigade that oversees Marawi City and Lanao del Sur.–Divina M. Suson/NewsLine.ph
