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𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐀, 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧, 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 - The Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) hosted its traditional New Year's Call to EastMinCom Commander LtGen. Luis Rex D. Bergante PA, on January 13.
The event was atten...
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BSKE 2023 in Eastern Mindanao: A Triumph of Unity and Peace as COMELEC, Law Enforcement, and Community join Forces
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023 in Eastern Mindanao concluded as a remarkable testament to unity and peace.
As of 6PM on 30 October 2023...
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NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - Despite the bad weather condition that welcomed 2023, LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, the Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said that it still turned out good as three members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) surrendered on New Year's Day, January 1.
The said personalities, identified as Maximo "Joey" F. Vibas Sr., Squad Leader, his live-in partner Jennifer "Angel" T. Gagbo, and Nelboy "DJ" N. Yubos - who also brought along a 5.56mm Magpul rifle - yielded to the troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) under the 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde), 4th Infantry Division (4ID) at Brgy. Comagascas, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
They were all members of Sentro de Grabidad 16, Guerilla Front 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (SDG16, GF16, NEMRC).
The former rebels also aided the 29IB troops and intelligence units in recovering seven high-powered firearms, two magazines, and a generator set as they revealed the location of two arms caches at Brgy. Cuyago, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, following an initial interview on the same day. The firearms consist of five M16 rifles, an M4 rifle, and an M203 Grenade Launcher.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol lauded the troops of 4ID’s 901Bde and 29IB for their unceasing efforts and sacrifices to end the CTG despite the holidays and bad weather.
He also expressed his optimism to defeat the communist terrorists in his joint operational area this year as their depleting forces are diminishing further, and their four remaining guerilla units are already "hanging by a thread."
"We are very optimistic to dismantle the remaining Guerilla Fronts in our area and declare the whole of Eastern Mindanao as insurgency-free this year. Despite the CTG's weakened status, we will not rest and will even intensify our focused military operations to run after their remnants," he said.
"This is our commitment. However, we cannot pursue this without the will of local leaders and the support of the people. Thus, we are asking for everyone's full support to ultimately achieve peace and prosperity this 2023," the EastMinCom Commander added.
LtGen. Almerol also renewed his call to the remaining CTG forces to lay down their arms and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to end their suffering and begin living peacefully with their families.#
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - The Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), LtGen. Greg T. Almerol is anticipating the near end of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in his joint operational area as EastMinCom concluded 2022 with five Sub-Regional Committees (SRC), nine Guerilla Fronts (GF), and four Vertical NPA Units dismantled.
Of the 32 Guerilla Fronts confronted by EastMinCom since the onset of Campaign Plan "Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao" in 2017, 28 or 88% of the total have already crumbled, while the four remaining Guerilla Fronts are already at their weakest.
Among the dismantled was the GF19, SRC Southland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), which LtGen. Almerol describes as one of the most notorious CTG units in the Caraga Region that recruited Indigenous Peoples (IP) and minors to join the armed struggle.
"The GF19 was involved in operating former CTG-linked schools in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur, where the Indigenous Peoples' (IPs) children were brainwashed and recruited in the terrorist movement. Its dismantling is an open door for the future declaration of strategic victory in the Caraga Region, where significant CTG formations remain," the EastMinCom Commander said.
Aside from the dismantled CTG units, EastMinCom also neutralized 533 CTG regulars, with 71 killed, 48 captured, and 416 surrendered from January until December 2022, including 198 Underground Mass Organizations (UGMOs) personalities and other elements who withdrew their support to the CTG.
Among the high-value individuals neutralized in the said period include, Menandro "Bok" Villanueva, the Secretary of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC)/Komisyon Mindanao (KOMMID) and 3rd Vice-Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP); Pedro "Gonyong" Codaste, the 2nd top-ranking New People's Army (NPA) Commander in Mindanao; and 55 other CTG leaders.
The communist terrorists' firepower further declined as troops recovered 631 firearms, and 121 anti-personnel mines (APM) through combat operations and the surrender of former rebels. Troops also discovered a total of 91 enemy hideouts within the same time frame.
On top of these, the Davao Region was declared by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as "insurgency-free" on October 27, 2022, as a result of the successive defeats of the remaining CTG units in the five Davao Provinces and one Highly-Urbanized City.
LtGen. Almerol noted that these victories are outcomes of the convergence of Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, and the military under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). He also associated this with the determination of former rebels to yield and support the government to end the decades-old armed conflict and achieve national progress.
"The immense support of the civilian government and former rebels in our cause towards peace and progress was never in vain. We thank all of them for helping us end 2022 with massive breakthroughs in our campaign, leaving the CTG in Eastern Mindanao at the brink of extinction," the EastMinCom Commander said.
He also lauded the troops for their sacrifice and unrelenting efforts to pursue the Communist terrorists, which led to overwhelming accomplishments of the Command.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol reiterated his call to the remaining CTG forces to surrender peacefully now that most of their top-ranking leaders, such as CPP Founder Jose Maria Sison, are already dead.
"To the remaining CTG members, now is the best time to yield. Let your reconciliation with your families and the government serve as your new year's resolution in starting a new life. The death of Jose Maria Sison and the neutralization of your other leaders signal that the collapse of your organization is imminent. Surrender now to avoid the same consequence, and we will ensure that you will receive the benefits of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP)," he expressed.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - Philippine Border Committee (PHBC) and Indonesian Border Committee (IDBC) eye for more frequent sea border patrols next year as the Coordinated Patrol Philippines-Indonesia (CORPAT PHIL-INDO) XXXVI-2022 culminated on December 14 at the SMX Convention Center, Lanang, Davao City.
Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and PHBC Chairman LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, and Rear Admiral Dr. TSNB Hutabarat MMS, Commander of the Indonesian Navy's 2nd Fleet Command and IDBC Chairman, bared that this is part of the 12-point agenda they are proposing with their respective governments.
"Expect that we will increase the frequency of conducting patrols to once a month to do our part, especially in cases of shipwreck due to calamities and typhoons, and to address the concerns of our fishermen who are in those areas," LtGen. Almerol said.
CORPAT PHIL-INDO is a joint patrol between the Indonesian Navy and the Philippine Navy, which aims to enhance interoperability and secure the maritime borders of both countries against piracy, illegal crossing, and other criminal activities carried out four legs a year through Harbor and Sea Phases.
This year, the series of CORPAT began on March 28-30, followed by the Second Leg on July 05-11 with an Opening Ceremony in Manado City, Indonesia, the Third Leg in the last week of October, and the Fourth Leg on December 11-16 with the Closing Ceremony in Davao City.
The Fourth Leg's Sea Phase, held on December 11-13, was joined by the BRP Artemio Ricarte PS-37 from the Philippine Navy and KRI HUI-634 from the Indonesian Navy, completing several Maritime Security Patrols and Exercises with a total steaming time of 47 hours and 51 minutes covering 515.2 nautical miles.
Likewise, the Harbor Phase, held on December 13-14, was done in a pre-pandemic manner with the docking of KRI HUI-634 and its crew here; Courtesy Call of RAdm. Hutabarat and his Indonesian delegates to LtGen. Almerol at Headquarters EastMinCom; and Closing Ceremony/Fellowship Dinner hosted by EastMinCom at the SMX Convention Center.
LtGen. Almerol also accorded RAdm. Hutabarat and his delegates a traditional arrival honors during their visit.
Some of the CORPAT's significant accomplishments this year include the repatriation of 14 Filipinos from Indonesia back to their families on July 11 and the return of seven Filipino fishermen to the country on November 22 after they were rescued by a Japanese vessel when their boat capsized near the Philippines-Indonesia border.
During the Closing Ceremony, RAdm. Hutabarat expressed his gratitude to all the members of the Philippines-Indonesia Border Committees for their cooperation and professionalism that made the CORPAT PHIL-INDO XXXVI-2022 successful.
"I believe, despite the huge responsibility in this task, we have completed the patrols on the basis of cooperation between both parties. We hope this cooperation becomes stronger and develops a necessary means of our security and friendship for years to come," he said.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol underscored the importance for the Philippines and Indonesia to adopt new strategies that will boost the Coordinated Patrol's effectiveness.
"The Coordinated Patrol exercise needs to adopt, together with our counterparts, a new strategy on enhancing the interoperability between our forces and make the same more responsive and effective operationally for a safer and more secure maritime environment," he noted.
"Being at the forefront in maritime security, the Republic of the Philippines Border Committee and the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines commit to strengthen our partnership in all joint endeavors and exert our best effort to safeguard the maritime borders and the best interest of our respective countries," the EastMinCom Commander added.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - The Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) under the leadership of LtGen. Greg T. Almerol has reported the dismantling of another six Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) units in its joint operational area this December.
These are composed of the Regional Sentro de Grabidad, Regional Operational Command, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (RSDG, ROC, SMRC), a Vertical Unit; Sub-Regional Committees (SRC) 1, 2, 4, and 5, under SMRC; and SRC 4 of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
Most of them formerly operate in Davao Region and Bukidnon.
LtGen. Almerol said they were declared dismantled through a Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) Resolution approved and signed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, LtGen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., on December 6.
He also said that as a result of the neutralization of the CTG leadership, followed by no reports of their activities or presence in their former mass bases, the Eastern Mindanao Area-Clearing and Validation Committee (EM-ACVC) composed of the EastMinCom and Area Police Command - Eastern Mindanao (APC-EM) recommended the CTG units' dissolution to the JPSCC on October 6.
"Since the declaration of the Davao Region as "insurgency-free," EastMinCom has not monitored any extortion activities, harassment, and other atrocities by the CTG, including their presence in the said area," the EastMinCom Commander said.
It can be recalled that the Davao Region was declared "insurgency-free" by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 27, following the defeat of the CTG in the area through the convergence of the civilian government and the military under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol encouraged the remaining members and leaders of the CTG to yield peacefully, so they can be reunited with their loved ones, especially since the Chrismas Season is here.
"Christmas Season symbolizes freedom, and you cannot experience that if you are away from your families who are already missing you. It is time for you to embrace the government’s offer to help you start a new life. I, therefore, urge all the remaining CTG leaders and members to return to the folds of law and avail of government programs under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), so you may enjoy genuine Christmas without fear," LtGen. Almerol added.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - House of Representatives Committee Chairperson on National Defense and Security and Iloilo 5th District Representative, Hon. Raul "Boboy" C. Tupas paid a visit to the Headquarters Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) on November 30.
EastMinCom Commander, LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, accompanied by his Officers, Enlisted Personnel, and Civilian Human Resources, welcomed and rendered him with sideboys honor.
The said visit seeks to consult the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding their views and opinions on the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 11709, which was signed into law by Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on April 13, 2022.
The policy prescribes fixed terms among the AFP key Officers, increases the mandatory retirement age of Generals/Flag Officers, and provides a new attrition system among its personnel.
In a Consultative Meeting, the team of Cong. Tupas provided a space for the Ground Commanders, Staff Officers, and selected Enlisted Personnel under EastMinCom to air their concerns on the provision of RA 11709 and recommend possible amendments.
Present were the Commanders/Representatives under the Joint Task Forces Agila, Diamond, Seahawk, Haribon, and Tactical Operations Wing - Eastern Mindanao.
Cong. Devina Grace C. Yu of the 1st District of Zamboanga del Sur, Cong. Mercedes K. Alvarez of the 6th District of Negros Occidental, Chief of the AFP’s Office for Legislative Affairs, BGen. Acmad U. Omar Jr. and other representatives of concerned offices under the AFP and Congress were also present as part of the consultative team.
In his message, the Chairperson thanked LtGen. Almerol and the attendees for the productive consultation. He also assured to bring all the recommendations they have raised to Congress to improve the law.
"We have learned so much from you. We assure to the best of our efforts to push the recommendations to enhance the law, for the good of the institution," Cong. Tupas said.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol also praised the Congressman for paying a visit to EastMinCom, which he said allowed them to engage the legislative side of the national government through his representation.
"We appreciate your gesture of spending time and looking into our concerns on the ground. Thank you, sir! For that, we assure you also our full support in all the policies you would propose in the Congress for the benefit of our country's defense and security," he expressed.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP