In AFP, ‘sacking’ now means ‘streamlining’

From Malaya Business Insight (Apr 7): In AFP, ‘sacking’ now means ‘streamlining’

THE Armed Forces is re-organizing its force structure in the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi amid the spate of kidnapping incidents perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf, a military spokesman said yesterday.

Maj. Filemon Tan, spokesman of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command, said the streamlining caused the relief of Brig. Generals Alan Arrojado and Jose Cabanban as commander and deputy commander, respectively, of the Joint Task Group Sulu.

Arrojado and Cabanban will retain their other posts as commanders of the Army’s 501st Brigade and 2nd Marine Brigade. The two brigades are under the operational control of the Joint Task Group Sulu.

The new commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, in concurrent capacity, is Maj. Gen. Gerry Barientos, chief of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

Tan said Navy Capt. Harry John Delgado has been also relieved as commander of the Joint Task Group Tawi-Tawi. Delgado will retain his other position of deputy commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao,

The new Joint Task Group Tawi-Tawi commander, also in concurrent capacity, is Rear Adm. Jorge Amba, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.
Tan said Barientos and Amba were given the additional posts “as part of this headquarters’ effort to streamline our ongoing operations, ensure coverage of all operational areas and synchronize current efforts.”

“This is to allow our brigade commanders to focus on assigned tasks in light of new security challenges in the area,” he added.

He also said the changes are expected to “bring concrete results to our efforts,” referring to the continuing operations against the Abu Sayyaf and the rescue of foreign and Filipino hostages the terrorist group is holding.

He said Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz decided to re-organized the force structure in the two provinces “for better command and control” in these areas.

Tan noted that as concurrent commanders of the 1st ID and Naval Forces Western Mindanao, Barientos and Amba have better flexibility to redeploy forces to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“Our concentration now is Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. We are intensifying our operations in these areas… We want a better command and control,” Tan said.

Government forces stepped up operations against the Abu Sayyaf in November last year, following the beheading of a Malaysian captive in Sulu.

Asked if the streamlining will lead to deployment of more forces to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, Tan said: “That will depend on the two commanders (Barientos and Amba). If they think there is a need, they have the full authority to shift forces,” said Tan.

On whether the move will result in the rescue of Abu Sayyaf hostages, Tan said: “We’re sure that the command and control will be strengthened.”

The Abu Sayyaf is keeping several foreign and Filipino hostages in Sulu, including a Dutch wildlife photographer abducted in Tawi-Tawi in February 2012.

Two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina seized from Samal island in Davao del Norte last September were reportedly brought by their Abu Sayyaf captors to Sulu. The foreign hostages said they are being held in Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf but the military is still validating this.

The Abu Sayyaf set a deadline of April 8 for the payment of P1-billion ransom for each of the hostages.

Commenting on the deadline, Tan said they are conducting operations with or without the deadline.

Reports also said 10 Indonesian crewmembers of a tugboat intercepted off Tawi-Tawi on March 26 and four Malaysian crewmembers of another tugboat intercepted off Sulu last April 13 are also being held captive in the island-province.

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