Civilian 'army' stays in Iloilo's fight vs communist-terrorists
SOLLESTA
The battle against the continued harassment, extortion and attacks of communist-terrorist New People's Army (NPA) in Iloilo will remain to be a concerted effort between government forces and civilian "army" called the CAFGUs (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit).
Civilians and armed, yes but for Major Lyndon Sollesta of the Philippine Army, a 'crash course' on territorial defense and extensive trainings will prove these locals to be the army's best partners in villages known to be NPA "hold areas." CAFGUs are also needed, he said, if the government is to work for more "win areas."
Sollesta made the clarification amidst sentiments raised against the resurgence of CAFGUs, fears of yet more human rights violations and the possible birth of a new war within Iloilo's barangays.
Board Member Angelo Briones, provincial federation president of the province's 1,721 barangays openly manifested his objection on utilizing an armed civilian component in the government's insurgency drive.
"A disaster waiting to happen," Briones said while adding that CAFGUs in the forefront of a longtime problem will not improve the province's peace and order situation.
In a phone interview, Sollesta moved to allay fears saying the process is rigid in hiring the civilian army with recommendations coming from barangay officials themselves and local chief executives of the Iloilo town concerned.
Yet why the civilian component? Sollesta explained that with the deadline set by Malacañang in crushing the communist existence in the country, such is needed to fast-track the counter-insurgency drive.
"The CAFGUs have always been there but were streamlined. The plan though is to add more forces to our existing number and they will be under cadres who are regular members of the Philippine Army," he continued. "They are not aggressive forces but are trained to put up territorial defenses or be in a defense posture at times that calls for it."
To date, no exact number of CAFGUs in Iloilo are readily available however The News Today (TNT) got a confirmation of a "full strength" CAFGU company based in Miag-ao Iloilo. The number of 'civilian army' soldiers here was said to be 88 with 14 army cadres supervising its operations.
"There is nothing to fear," Major Sollesta ended. "And them as human rights violators were statistics from the past when there was seeming impunity. Now we have changed that with the process employed in hiring prospective CAFGUs."
TNT sources confirmed that efforts are underway to set up an immediate talk between local army top brass and Iloilo's barangay officials headed by Board Member Briones.
"We want to win the battle against the criminal activities of these communist-terrorists and free our community from the fear and terror sowed in our barangays," Briones said. "But we also want to make sure that no further violations are committed and that we are not sacrificing our men in the process."