Rebel-affected areas in Visayas slashed by 90%
As far as the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is concerned, it is right on track in accomplishing its mission to reduce insurgency down to an insignificant level by June 30, 2010.
With more than a month to go before the deadline set by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 3ID commanding officer Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto said that they have cleared more than 90% of the barangays and have reduced the guerrilla fronts in the islands of Panay and Negros.
Also, “we have reduced the strength and the firearms of the CPP-NPA and we’re on track to meet the deadline. We’re very positive and optimistic in meeting the deadline,” he declared.
For now, the 3ID’s main man said that they are doubling their efforts to clear the remaining 10%.
Some of these areas in the towns of Tapaz, Capiz and Calinog, Iloilo where the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA)’s Central Front Committee is operating.
Porto also identified few areas in Southern Iloilo where the NPA’s Southern Front Committee is operating and at least four areas in Negros Island.
It was gathered that from 3 guerrilla fronts in Panay, the Army soldiers are working on two working fronts – the Central Front in Tapaz, Capiz and Calinog and Lambunao in Iloilo; and the Southern Front in Miag-ao, Leon, and Igbaras in Iloilo province.
But the 3ID hierarchy is confident that it won’t be long before the Southern Front could be downgraded, as the 82nd Infantry Battalion based in Miag-ao, Iloilo is on track with its mission.
In Negros Island, there were five guerrilla fronts but the three were already downgraded.
“Yes, we’re very confident (to meet the deadline). When we say we will make them irrelevant, it doesn’t to remove all of them. We’re expecting that they would loose their will to fight. We’re expecting that they would join us in the peace movements and there will be no trouble after that,” he explained.
Even Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, who visited the 3rd ID headquarters at Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, that as far as counter-insurgency is concerned, 3ID performed well.
“Nasusunod nila ‘yung time line nila. This is because we have competent leaders and commanders in this area under M/Gen. Porto. So, I would like to commend and all troopers of the Spearhead Division.
But I have to remind them also that we still have that deadline to meet as far as our ISO (internal security operation) deadline is concerned. So, what I am reminding the troops is to stay focus to our urgent task, which is our role in this coming elections,” he said.
All over the country, Mapagu said that they have turned over a lot of areas to the peace and order council.
“But it doesn’t mean that when turn over these areas to the local peace and order councils, we will get out of the areas. We will still maintain our presence because we still have a lot of things to do. For example, ‘yung mga peace and development efforts, gagawin natin ‘yun to cement to sustain the gains in the ISO efforts,” he said.
Further, “ang isa diyan is to prepare the Army so that we could transition to the external defense role natin kasi ‘yun naman ang pupuntahan natin,” he added.
Right now, Mapagu said that he I would like to provide continuity to the programs of his predecessors. “And of course, ‘yun nga sabi ko ang mission naman ng Army ... by 2028 merong kaming ginagawang transformation road map naming and I have just listened to the presentation the other day. Hopefully, magawa natin ‘to ang transformation ng Philippine Army. The mission of this is to make out Philippine Army a world-class Army which is a source of national pride,” he prospected.
