Army counter-insurgency gains noted in 1st semester 2013

From the Leyte Samar Daily Express (Aug 8): Army counter-insurgency gains noted in 1st semester 2013

The 8th Infantry Division based here has gained considerable achievements in its anti-insurgency campaign in Eastern Visayas for the past seven months of this year, a military report said.

Major General Gerardo Layug.commanding general of the 8th ID, told reporters in a press conference at his office here that his division has scored heavily against New People’s Army operating in Eastern Visayas during the first seven months of the year in its campaign against the communist insurgency in the region.

Layug informed reporters that one of the significant accomplishments of his division include the arrest of 15 NPA insurgents, 5 of whom held key and high positions in the CPP-NPA hierarchy in the region; recovery of 17 high powered firearms and 23 low-powered firearms; neutralization of seven NPA insurgents during encounters; surrender of 101 rebels composed of 20 NPA insurgents and 81 NPA organized mass members; and the discovery and seizure of 77 NPA camps.

Layug disclosed that the most significant accomplishment of 8ID was the joint declaration of Eastern Samar as “Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development-Ready Area (MCADRA)” in a ceremony held last March 26, 2013 at the Capitol Building in Borongan City, Eastern Samar. He added that with the success of his division in its anti-insurgency campaign has resulted to the decline of the communist massbase support in Eastern Samar where before a hotbed of insurgency.

Layug claims that declaring Eastern Samar as MCADRA, the province is now ready for economic investment and sustainable development as experienced in Cebu, Bohol, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte where businesses started to thrive and attract investments when they were declared as MCADRA years back.

In these provinces, insurgency related problems have become manageable and reduced to mere police concern, Layug added.

The commanding general also informed reporters that the local chief executives of Samar and Northern Samar are looking forward to yearend 2013 and 2014, respectively, when their provinces become truly insurgency free and to be declared also as MCADRA.

Layug declared that the successes of 8ID can be attributed to the implementation of Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan” and its wide-acceptance by and among stakeholders. Through “Bayanihan” 8ID troops have become effective agents of peace in the region showcasing adherence to and observance of human rights, rule of law and International Humanitarian Laws.

Layug stated that due to the positive image created by “Bayanihan”, recently arrested and surrendered NPA leaders cooperated with the government in reaching out to other active NPA members to surrender and return to the folds of the law and restart a new life, he added. “Winning the peace needs hard work, dedication, cooperation and collaboration. I am confident that with their zeal and enthusiasm, all stakeholders in Eastern Visayas will contribute for the attainment of peace and sustainable development in the region.”

http://leytesamardaily.net/2013/08/army-counter-insurgency-gains-noted-in-1st-semester-2013/