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𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐂𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞
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 - A Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) between the Philippines and Indonesia (PHILINDO) reopened on July 5 at the Swiss-belhotel Maleosan, Manado, Indonesia, as borders between the two countries reopened this year.
Rear Admiral Dr. TSNB Hutabarat, M.M.S, the Commander of the Fleet Command II, Indonesian National Armed Forces, and Chairman of the Indonesia Border Committee (IDBC), hosted the opening ceremony of CORPAT PHILINDO XXXVI-2022.
The Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and Philippine Border Committee (PHBC) Chairman, LtGen. Greg T. Almerol graced the opening. He was also accompanied by Commodore Carlos V. Sabarre, the Commander of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) and (PHBC) Vice-Chairman; Philippine Consul General in Manado Angelica C. Escalona; and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Mindanao Assistant Secretary Renato Pedro O. Villa.
CORPAT PHILINDO is a joint patrol between the Indonesian Navy and the Philippine Navy, which aims to maintain and secure the maritime borders of both countries against piracy, illegal crossing, and other criminal activities, carried out four times a year, including the Harbor and Sea Phases.
LtGen. Almerol said the harbor phase of the previous CORPAT was put on hold during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic when both countries closed their borders.
The EastMinCom Commander also bared that CORPAT PHILINDO XXXVI-2022 was designed to provide both naval forces an opportunity to improve interoperability and capability, to ensure a safe and secure common border through naval exercises simulating various scenarios.
"Our long-established defense relations made a remarkable impact in bolstering the military-to-military relationship between our nation’s armed forces through the conduct of joint maritime exercises, information sharing, and professional exchanges," he said.
"I am confident that we will be able to sustain our efforts in responding to the common challenges that beset our nations and be able to build a Southeast Asian Region that is peaceful and prosperous," LtGen. Almerol added.
Meanwhile, the naval ships involved during the exercises and coordinated patrols were the KRI Ajak-653 from the Indonesian Navy and BRP Ramon Alcaraz PS-16 from the Philippine Navy.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - The Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), led by LtGen. Greg T. Almerol formally handed over the cash donation it raised for the House of Hope (HOH) Foundation for Kids with Cancer Inc. at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City on July 8.
The visit and handover ceremony, dubbed "Sharing is Caring, Spread HOPE through Gift Giving," was made possible through the support of the Kiwanis International Districts 7 and 8.
During the program, LtGen. Almerol, with his wife, Ms. Lynette Almerol, handed over a check worth P334,623.50 to the HOH Foundation through its President, Ms. Fatima-Inderah Disomimba, and its Secretary, Mr. Roy Crecencio Linao. The beneficiary children and their parents also witnessed the ceremonial handover.
The Command raised the donation through a "Golf-for-Cause" held last June 25. LtGen. Almerol said he personally selected the House of Hope as a beneficiary to support the medication of children with Cancer, which he said is his advocacy.
In his message, the EastMinCom Commander motivated the children to be positive and courageous in dealing with their current challenges, adding that they are inspirations to people who are also dealing with their own battles in life.
"Ang matag-usa kaninyo inspirasyon gayod kanamong tanan. Ang inyong istorya sa kinabuhi nahisulat sa usa ka espesyal nga pamaagi kung aha daghan ang ma-inspire ug sa susamang paagi nagahatag ug positibong panlataw sa kinabuhi (Each of you inspires us all. Your life story is written in a special way that inspires many and in the same way gives a positive outlook on life.)," he said.
He also thanked the sponsors, stakeholders, and the HOH Foundation for supporting the initiative.
Prior to the handover ceremony, Kiwanis International conducted games and interactions to entertain the children followed by the distribution of toys, food packs, and other supplies. They likewise handed over a check worth P12,000.00 to the foundation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Roy Crecencio Linao thanked LtGen. Almerol and EastMinCom for heeding their call to help the children.
"We have been blessed and fortunate that many have heeded our call to help these children afflicted with this deadly disease. Among those who responded and supported us in this endeavor are the men in uniform," he said.
Dr. Sheryl Lyn Diez, Chief Training Officer of SPMC; Mr. Eduardo Tesorero and Ms. Lui Lorna Go, current and past Lieutenant Governors of Kiwanis Division 7; Ms. Weng Gumanit, Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis Division 8, together with her co-officers; and other officials from the HOH Foundation were also present during the ceremony.
Physical distancing and other health protocols were observed during the whole program to ensure the safety of the beneficiary children and other attendees from COVID-19.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NFSA, Panacan, Davao City - Six months after Super Typhoon Odette hit the Province of Dinagat Islands last December 2021, LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, the Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), was back in the area to award deserving Army Reservists as responders during and after the natural calamity through an Awarding Ceremony at the Provincial Capitol, San Jose, Dinagat Islands on July 4.
The ceremony was in line with the week-long "People’s Fair Event" of the Provincial Local Government Unit (LGU) of Dinagat Islands, where EastMinCom also deployed medical teams to provide free medical consultations to the Dinagatnons.
Attending the ceremony were Maj. Nilo P. Demerey Jr. (Res), newly elected Dinagat Provincial Governor and the Acting Battalion Commander of the 1505th Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion (RRIBn), BGen. George L. Banzon, 901st Infantry Brigade Commander, Col. Diosdado E. Peji, 15th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) Commander, and PCol. Dennis A. Siruno, Dinagat Islands Provincial Police Office Director.
During the program, LtGen. Almerol awarded Bronze Cross Medals to 12 members of the 15th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG), Reserve Command, Philippine Army "for their acts of heroism involving the risk of life during the search and rescue operations in the Province of Dinagat Islands in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette."
The awardees were LtCol. Ma. Teresa P. Baylon (Res), Maj. Nilo P. Demerey Jr. (Res), Maj. Fe Consuelo C. Botanas (Res), 2Lt. Dennis C. Maregmen, 2Lt. Neil P. Rosillo (Res), MSg. Leonardo A. Samson (Res), MSg. Herald C. Eder, SSg. Ferdinand E. Mandar, Sgt. Jecilyen C. Espinile (Res), Sgt. Sheila O. Peji (Res), Cpl. Shiela A. Butiong (Res), and Pfc. Ethel Joy C. Pielago (Res).
"To the awardees, most especially to the Acting Battalion Commander Maj. Demerey and his staff, we thank you for taking the lead. May this simple recognition strengthen our resolve to provide basic services and primary needs of our constituents for the realization of peace and development in our area," LtGen. Almerol expressed during his message.
He also emphasized that the Military Reservists boosted the much-needed resources during the conduct of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations, especially with the deployment of Joint Task Force (JTF) Sambisig in the Caraga Region and Dinagat province.
It can be recalled that EastMinCom, through the initiative of LtGen. Almerol activated and deployed JTF Sambisig as the Command's disaster response-focused unit, last December 2021 to oversee the HADR operations in the said areas following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette.
He likewise commended the timely implementation of a Basic Citizen Military Training and Organizational Training organized by the 15RCDG and 1505RRIBn for the 270 Citizen Army Soldiers of Dinagat Island Reserve Force, which were utilized and mobilized during the onslaught of the typhoon.
The EastMinCom Commander stressed this as an example as he encouraged the newly-minted officials of the Dinagat Islands to conduct Disaster Resiliency and Mitigation efforts to prevent the same or heavier casualties in case another disaster hits the province.
"With the recent effects and impact made by Typhoon Odette and with the new mandate of our esteemed Provincial Government Officials of Dinagat Islands, it is our fervent hope that Disaster Resiliency and Mitigation efforts will be considered to better prepare our constituents for future eventualities," he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. thanked the EastMinCom under the leadership of LtGen. Almerol for providing various assistance to his province, which helped in their steady recovery.
"The Eastern Mindanao Command, during and after Typhoon Odette, has given us a lot of help. From sending the Black Hawk helicopters to deliver relief goods to far-flung barangays, augmentation of an Engineering Unit for rehabilitation efforts, and sending Navy troops and vessels to give medical assistance to our islands through the BRP Ang Pangulo. LtGen. Almerol also came to give us logs for rebuilding our damaged homes," he said.
"As the Governor of Dinagat Islands, we appreciate what the Eastern Mindanao Command gave us during and after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette," Gov. Demerey added.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - Outgoing National Security Adviser (NSA) Sec. Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. lauded the accomplishments of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) as he paid a farewell visit to LtGen. Greg T. Almerol and his troops on June 22 here.
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
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, the Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), has reported the successful implementation of security operations during the inauguration of Vice-President (VP) Sara Z. Duterte at the San Pedro Square, Davao City, on June 19.
LtGen. Almerol said this after the historic event culminated with peaceful, orderly, and zero-violence and atrocities reported.
It can be recalled that the Joint Task Force (JTF) Haribon, EastMinCom's anti-terrorism unit, led by BGen. Potenciano C. Camba has implemented a series of coordination meetings and joint security operations with various security units before and during the inauguration day to ensure the safety and security of the Vice-President, national and foreign dignitaries, and the people of Davao from possible threats.
It can be recalled that the Joint Task Force (JTF) Haribon, EastMinCom's anti-terrorism unit, led by BGen. Potenciano C. Camba has implemented a series of coordination meetings and joint security operations with various security units before and during the inauguration day to ensure the safety and security of the Vice-President, national and foreign dignitaries, and the people of Davao from possible threats.
EastMinCom has also deployed its security contingent on June 17, together with the more than 3,700 security personnel of other units during the Security and Safety Cluster's Send-Off Ceremony held at the Davao City Police Office Parade Ground.
The said contingent was composed of the personnel and assets from the 10th Infantry Division, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, Tactical Operations Wing Eastern Mindanao, Joint Task Force Haribon, and Headquarters EastMinCom.
In a message, Angel B. Sumagaysay, Head of the Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), expressed his appreciation to all members of the security sector, including EastMinCom, for contributing to the success of the ceremony.
"On behalf of the Security and Safety Clusters, I would like to extend my gratitude...to all who supported us to ensure that the Oath-taking Ceremony of Vice-President Sara Duterte will be conducted orderly and peacefully," he said.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol attributed the successful security operations through the synergy of civilians and government security forces.
"The vigilance of Davaoeños, combined with the broad presence of security forces in Davao, is enough guarantee that anyone who has ill intentions during the inauguration will not prevail. It shows that with this convergence through "Culture of Security," EastMinCom and all security forces in Davao are capable of securing national and international events," he said.
The EastMinCom Commander also congratulated Vice-President Sara Duterte on her inauguration as the second head of state and expressed his commitment of ensuring the security in Eastern Mindanao during the new administration.###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP