JOLO, Sulu – Some 2,000 civilian volunteers took their oath as members of a new police unit which will help police and military authorities protect their respective villages in Sulu Province from rebel attacks.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro led the oath taking of the 2,000 civilian volunteers on Thursday at the Provincial Capitol compound in Patikul, Sulu.

“We will not allow these groups from terrorizing innocent people and taking hostage this beautiful province of Sulu,” Teodoro said after administering the oath of the civilian volunteers.

Earlier, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan welcomed Teodoro who arrived by plane from Zamboanga City late Thursday afternoon together with senior military and police officials, and Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez.

Tan said the volunteers would be placed under the supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the mayors of the town where they would be deployed as peace-keeping forces.

He said the volunteers will help police and military authorities minimize if not eradicate the existence of terrorist groups in Sulu.

“These volunteers are now partners of the PNP in maintaining peace and order in Sulu. They will be under the supervision of the Philippine National Police,” Tan said.

Tan also praised the Defense chief, who is also the chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), for helping civilians displaced by the fighting in Sulu.

Clashes between security forces and rebels began in September and the military said dozens had been killed and wounded, including two United States (US) Special Forces members, in the fighting, which displaced thousands of civilians.