Army conducts clearing operations in preparation for May 13 polls

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 16): Army conducts clearing operations in preparation for May 13 polls

A top military commander said they have conducted several security operations against the communist rebels as part of the preparation for the May 13 midterm national and local elections.

Major General Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division said that from January to March, 2013, his troops conducted a total of four division-initiated military operations, 13- brigade initiated operations, 52 battalion level operations.

He revealed that the soldiers engaged the rebels in armed encounters 12 times because of these government-initiated-operations.

“Every month, each of my 11 battalions conducts a battalion-size operation, aside from the 5,800 small-size operations,” Bernardo said.
He also noted that the rebels conducted 37 hostile activities against the government troops, including nuisance harassments like firing from afar.

Bernardo said the rebels are also active, carrying out orders from their higher leadership to conduct tactical offensive against government soldiers.

He also disclosed that the operations resulted to two rebels being killed and seven soldiers who offered the supreme sacrifice.

“The best results of the operations were the surrender of sixty rebels to the government fold and the recovery of nine high-powered firearms,” Bernardo said.

He also said that the peace and development outreach program has been completed on 54 barangays for the past four months.

Bernardo said that currently, 204 barangays in the region are undergoing PDOP with the continued immersion of soldiers to the communities to assist local governments and national government agencies in the delivery of basic services to the residents.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381366084697