Entire Visayas insurgency-free by 2016 – Centcom chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 21): Entire Visayas insurgency-free by 2016 – Centcom chief

Major General Nicanor Vibar, commander of the Central Command (Centcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said he aims to declare the entire Visayas as insurgency-free by 2016.

The Centcom has jurisdiction over the three regions in the Visayas, namely, Regions 6, 7 and 8.

Vibar said that when he assumed as the new Centcom commander, 11 out of 16 provinces in the Visayas have already been cleared.

He said only five provinces are left for him to clear by 2016.

They are Northern Samar, Samar, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

He said their campaign in these areas is becoming better and in fact Samar is set to be cleared in the coming months.

Vibar said Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, challenged him to declare the entire Visayas insurgency-free even earlier than 2016.

He said the New People’s Army will not be allowed in the areas declared insurgency-free.

He said some of the rebels will try to re-establish their presence but he said that this will not be allowed.

Vibar said the presence of the AFP in the Visayas would mean the NPA would have a hard time re-establishing its presence.

Vibar said the NPA’s top leaders have already been captured.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=686713