The
commanding general of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, has directed
the officers and men of the 8th Infantry Division to maintain the success in
addressing the insurgency problem in the region.
Coballes,
who was the guest of honor and speaker during the 8th ID’s 25th founding
anniversary here Friday, urged his men to continue engaging the people in
shared thrust and responsibility for peace and security in Eastern
Visayas .
“We
should preserve your accomplishment and ensure the reduced insurgency-related
issues and rebel activities to pave the way in implementing the government’s
economic programs,” he said.
He
exhorted the soldiers to work with the people and sustain the peace and
development efforts as even as he recognized the division’s momentum on focused
military operations against the New People’s Army in the first semester of
2013.
“No
matter what gains we achieved, it is weakened by issues that will agitate
people and exploit them to support the armed struggle. We have to sustain the effective
implementation of our counter-insurgency strategy under the IPSP Bayanihan”,
said the Mindanao veteran in-charge of the
military’s most dominant branch of service at 80,000-strong men and women.
Under
the Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan”, the Armed Forces aims to
“conclude” by 2016 internal security threats from the CPP-NPA-NDF, Abu Sayyaf
Group, rogue MNLF elements, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter.
Coballes,
a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Mapitagan” Class of 1980, also
lauded the 8ID under Maj. Gen. Gerardo Layug for demonstrating exemplary and
commendable dedication to duty with the declaration of six provinces under its
area of operation as Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development-Ready Areas
(MACADRA).
The
MACADRA-declared areas are the provinces of Biliran, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte,
Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar .
Meanwhile,
the Army is targeting 2014 to also proclaim Samar and Northern
Samar provinces as MACADRA-declared zones.
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