Army doubles efforts to rid Samar of insurgents

From the Philippine Information Agecny (Jan 30): Army doubles efforts to rid Samar of insurgents

“We have reduced the enemy’s capabilities,” said Colonel Romeo Labador, the commanding officer of the 801st Infantry Brigade as he reports to the Samar Peace and order Council, Monday. He cited a decline in the number of insurgents collectively known as CNN meaning, CPP/NPA/NDF.

“We have cleared 42 barangays,” he added. By this he meant barangays that have been influenced by the CNN and now have withdrawn support to the insurgents. He added that they also have reduced the enemy capabilities citing a reduced number of insurgents and firearms.

He reported that their forces focused more efforts on the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) which target the hearts of the local populace. This approach involves governance, delivery of basic services, economic reconstruction and sustainable development and security sector reform.

So that presently, Labador and other army battalions focus their resources in converging with their civilian partners in government bringing them to the hinterlands which they called peace and development forum. Government agencies lay out their programs to the locales and accommodate their reasonable needs, the army also bring their medical/dental services.

One army commander said that Samarnons have become insurgents because they feel neglected by the government, through the army, government services will be brought to their barangays.

While there is no let-up in their security measures, the army feels that combat does not necessarily end the war.

The team of Labador also proudly declared that for the past year, there was no report of any human rights violation of their troops based at Barangay Fatima, Hinabangan, Samar.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1221359507854