Peace and security efforts in Sulu received a boost after a new police facility was formally opened in Maimbung, providing law enforcement personnel with a dedicated headquarters to support operations across the region.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of Camp Hadji Suod B. Tan on Monday, marking another step in the government's ongoing efforts to strengthen public safety and stability in the province. The facility will serve as the permanent headquarters of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 9B, the Philippine National Police's mobile reaction force tasked with covering Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Isabela City.
RELATED: [Gov’t Blocks Violent Online Game Amid Tacloban School Shooting Probe]
New Facility to Boost Police Operations
The newly opened camp was named after a former mayor of Maimbung and stands on a 1.8-hectare property donated by the Sulu provincial government in 2021. Designed to improve operational capability, the compound includes a four-story administration building, barracks, a firing range, and other support facilities for personnel stationed in the area.
Construction of the headquarters began in February 2024 and was developed to provide a more permanent and functional base for RMFB 9B. Authorities expect the facility to improve coordination, deployment, and readiness for security operations in the region.
The inauguration highlighted the government's broader objective of maintaining peace and order while enhancing the capabilities of security forces operating in geographically strategic areas of the southern Philippines.
Firearms Turnover Highlights Security Drive
During the event, the President also witnessed the turnover of 195 voluntarily surrendered high-powered firearms from various municipalities in Sulu. The turnover formed part of ongoing efforts to reduce the number of loose firearms in communities and strengthen public safety initiatives across the province.
Aside from inspecting the newly completed facilities, the President received a handcrafted Tausug kris, a traditional symbol reflecting Sulu's cultural heritage and identity.
Joining the ceremony were Abdusakur A. Tan II, Abdusakur M. Tan, Shihla Tan-Hayudini, all 19 municipal mayors of Sulu, as well as military and police officials.
Following the inauguration, Marcos traveled to Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista to visit the headquarters of the Army's 11th Infantry Division before proceeding to Zamboanga City for other official engagements.
For residents of Sulu and neighboring provinces, stronger security infrastructure can contribute to safer communities, improved investor confidence, and greater opportunities for economic development. Enhanced peace and order initiatives may also help support tourism, business activity, and public services, benefiting both local communities and the country's broader development goals.
RELATED: [New P30-M Police Provincial Headquarters To Rise In Maguindanao del Norte]
