9ID scores high in 2012

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 14): 9ID scores high in 2012

The Philippine Army, led by the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division, operating in the Bicol has scored high in doing counterinsurgency campaign in the region. Maj. Gen. Romeo V. Calizo, commanding general of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, in his 2012 year-end report asserted that the Army is on the right track of significantly degrading the armed capability of the NPA. “The Philippine Army is successful in breaking the will to fight of many rebels compelling a significant number of them to abandon the armed struggle and creating a peaceful environment conducive to sustainable development in Bicol Region,” Calizo said.

From January to December last year, the division recorded a total of 46 government-initiated encounters compared to 27NPA-initiated encounters that left 23 NPA rebels killed while 12 soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice of dying in the line of duty. “The Army and the PNP reduced the rebel organization in Bicol by 69 for the year 2012. 23 rebels were slain during skirmishes while 17 were either captured or apprehended during combat operations. 29 others took the wise decision of returning to their families and live a peaceful life,” said Major General Romeo V Calizo, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division.

Military operations last year also yielded 36 high powered firearms, 31 low powered firearms, and 33 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used as anti personnel and anti tank landmines from the rebels while the Army lost seven high powered firearms. Early December last year, the 9th ID cleared 18 barangays in Camarines Norte free from NPA influence. “There are 23 more barangays in Camarines Norte for validation this January for clearing, and I believe that these 23 barangays will satisfy all the parameters for an NPA influence free barangay,” said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Buhat, commanding officer of the 49th IB in Labo, Camarines Norte. “We endeavor to reduce human rights violations as we abide by the law, rule of law and international humanitarian law. Being sincere to this, there was a significant decrease of human rights complaints against 9ID soldiers with just one (1) last year compared to 12 in 2011,” said Colonel Felix J Castro Jr, asst division commander and Human Rights Officer of 9ID.

“Our accomplishments for CY 2012 are testaments that the 9ID gained the upper hand in confrontations with the NPA in the region. Despite the death of some of our men in combat, relentless pursuit operations against the NPA have been exhausting their armed capabilities which diminish their will to fight,” said Calizo. According to Calizo, the IPSP “Bayanihan” gives the same weight to combat and non combat means in pursuit of peace. In its perspective, winning the peace or preserving the relatively peaceful environment is the objective and not merely defeating the enemy. “Our efforts on stakeholders engagement have been gaining more and more support from other sectors. As we continue to pursue the efforts to link with all agencies in the region, continued support towards improvement and development of communities are being felt by the people and there is a higher chance of success,” said Calizo, referring to the reduction of NPA’s mass support and prevention resource generation activities.

The implementation of stricter campaigns against insurgency in the countryside, helped in the decrease of the number of rebels operating there. The active presence of the Army and the incessant operations drove most of the rebels to voluntarily surrender because they are no longer able to move freely among the masses which they used to get support from by way of revolutionary taxes and other insurgent tactics. The small community of rebel returnees is among the main focus of the Social Integration Program (SIP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the 9th Infantry Division, in Bicol. “Before, the rebels can freely go to the barangays in two’s, and the people already feel afraid,” said Major General Calizo. “But if they do that now, the people in the barangay will apprehend them and turn them over to the proper authorities.”

With the 9th ID’s significant accomplishments in Internal Peace & Security Operations, the NPA have been weakened. However, they have been effective in their recovery effort on their previously lost grounds. They managed to conduct several terror activities to convey their continued existence. Due to the Division’s IPSO, the NPA’s extortion efforts and their influence on the masses have been significantly reduced.

Overall, 9ID campaign is on track towards the attainment of our objectives of “Winning the Peace” in Bicol region, Calizo said, the Division has been able to perform exceedingly well in our combat and non-combat operations. This could be attributed to a pool of well-motivated, well-trained and experienced personnel of the command who get the job done. (MAL/Maj. AGuzman-DPAO-9ID PA/PIA5)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=771358127530