National Security Adviser Esperon lauds EastMinCom’s accomplishments during visit

 

During the Briefing presentation of Campaign Accomplishment at the Bayanihan Center, Sec. Esperon expressed his delight over the performance of EastMinCom during his term, which he described as "superb."

 

"I congratulate the Eastern Mindanao Command for its superb performance. Just imagine dismantling 78.7% of your area's Guerilla Fronts. I could not believe it because, in Eastern Mindanao, it was here where the CPP-NPA was strongest. Ang laki ng pagbabago," he said.

 

"It was here where we had almost all of the Guerilla Fronts, and almost 70% of the NPA members come from the IPs. So, it is a big change that I am now seeing here. And, I think we are achieving a strategic victory," Sec. Esperon emphasized.

 

His remark came after LtGen. Almerol presented the accomplishments of EastMinCom from 2017 to 2022 under its Campaign Plan "Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao" and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Development Support and Security Plan (DSSP) “Kapayapaan.”

 

Some of them include the dismantling of 26 out of 33 Guerilla Fronts and 9 out of 22 Vertical Units of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG); clearing of 855 barangays all over Eastern Mindanao from its influence; neutralization of 373 high-ranking CTG personalities; and recovery of 4,579 firearms and 1,384 anti-personnel mines.

 

The EastMinCom Commander also highlighted the recent declaration of the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and Davao de Oro, and the City of Davao as "insurgency-free" this year, following the dismantling of the CTG units in the said areas.

 

He said that they are also eyeing to declare the whole Davao Region as free from insurgency before the end of 2022.

 

LtGen. Almerol attributed the series of declarations and other accomplishments to the Command's focused military operations, the full cooperation of local leaders, and the support of the members of the National Task Force to Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

 

"The collective efforts of different lines of government, particularly the Local Government Units (LGUs), Government Agencies, and the security forces comprising the NTF-ELCAC in Davao Region, has allowed us to achieve this success," he said.

 

"We delivered the basic and primary needs of the people, regained the trust of the CTG mass supporters, convinced them to declare the CTG as person non-grata, cleared all communities from its influence, and neutralized all its active members and high-ranking CTG leaders," LtGen. Almerol enumerated.

 

Before the presentation, the EastMinCom Commander also showcased some of the firearms captured from the CTG, the notable former CTG leaders who now serve as partners of the government, the completed projects under the Barangay Development Program (BPD), and other significant accomplishments of the Command to the outgoing National Security Adviser.

 

Retired Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr., former EastMinCom Commander and AFP Chief of Staff, and the incoming Officer-in-Charge of the Department of National Defense (DND), as well as Gov. Edwin I. Jubahib of Davao del Norte also attended the activity.

 

MGen. Nolasco A. Mempin, Commander of 10th Infantry Division (ID); MGen. Wilbur C. Mamawag of 4ID; Commo. Carlos V. Sabarre of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM); BGen. Potenciano C. Camba, EastMinCom Deputy Commander and Joint Task Force (JTF) Haribon Commander; PMGen. Filmore B. Escobal of Area Police Command - Eastern Mindanao (APC-EM); PBGen. Edgar Allan O. Okubo, Deputy Regional Director of Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11); Col. Francis Marlon S. Wong, the Commander of 52nd Engineer Brigade; and other heads of security units in Davao were likewise present.

 

Sec. Esperon, Gen. Faustino, PMGen. Escobal, PBGen. Okubo, and Gov. Jubahib were accorded military honors by the Command and welcomed by LtGen. Almerol.###


Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP