10th ID chief wants whole-nation approach in developing rural areas

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 25): 10th ID chief wants whole-nation approach in developing rural areas

Major General Ariel Bernardo has emphasized that the military is supportive to the development of rural areas, including even those tagged as rebel infested villages, on a whole-nation approach.

“We are not out there to kill all. We also want to solve the root causes of poverty," Bernardo said.

He said paving the way for development is not only based on a military approach but a holistic effort.

Bernardo hinted to participation and close collaboration of the civilian government and the military in bringing security and development together in the communities especially where presence of the armed rebel groups is strong.

According to him, the military is ready to welcome back into the mainstream the rebels if they show effort to lay down arms.

“Wholesale is better. Take away the arm struggle and we can work together,” Bernardo said in Tagalog.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had been urging both the military and the rebels to at least stop fighting and pave the way for development as foreign investors wanted to engage in agri-development industry here.

On Tuesday, Davao City saw the armed encounter between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the special auxiliary forces in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Mandug, this city. Duterte said he was tired of telling both sides.

Bernardo said he recognizes the importance of addressing poverty in the community, thus they are collaborating with the government agencies to bring services to the villages.

Bernardo, who relinquished his post on Friday as the 10th Infantry Division Commander as he retires from the military service, will be rejoining the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) as member of the panel. Before his stint at the 10th ID, Bernardo was chair of the government’s Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities.

During his stint as 10th ID chief, Bernardo said the military has conducted at least 427 barangay immersions; 70,312 focus military operations, four regional level convergence and 1,871 other forms of social actions.

With his command, Bernardo said the military was able to organized 6,767 youth leadership; 12,943 internal peace and security activities and able to reached 1,886 barangays in their areas of responsibility.

He also reported that his command was able to neutralize 374 NPA members; arrested 1,541 members and leaders; and, recovered 494 improvised explosives and 179 firearms.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=666188