AFP reports significant gains during Pres. Duterte's first 100 days

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 14): AFP reports significant gains during Pres. Duterte's first 100 days

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reported the significant gains in its counter-terrorism and illegal drug operations during President Rodrigo Duterte's first 100 days in office.

AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya said the military has also gained headway in support of the Chief Executive's quest for just and lasting peace in the country.

This includes a unilateral ceasefire and the institution of conditions conducive to the holding of peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), he said.

"The AFP has ensured that all the orders, instructions, and guidance of the Commander-in-Chief reach all AFP units forthwith and by all means possible," Visaya further said.

The AFP's initiatives, he said, have paved the way for the 21 visits made by President Duterte to the military’s major services, Unified Commands, and Division headquarters throughout the archipelago, a feat unparalleled and never before made possible and undertaken by a chief executive.

In all those visits, the President was given full capability and situation briefs by the respective commanders and provided the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and civilian employees of the AFP, Visaya said, adding that the AFP has cascaded and localized the message of the President.

On neutralizing the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Visaya reported that the AFP has embarked on 579 massive focused military operations, 426 of which were meant to end the atrocity and notoriety of the bandits and allied terrorist groups.

The operations, he said, led to 54 armed engagements, resulting in the neutralization of 94 ASG bandits, either killed, wounded, apprehended or surrendered. Of the figure, 56 were killed, 21 surrendered, and 17 were captured.

Key ASG leaders Nelson Muktadil and Braun Muktadil, and sub-leader Mohammad Said were among the terrorists killed and their bodies were recovered in intense combat and ensuing search and retrieval operations, he said.

At least three other ASG leaders were also killed but were not identified by name because their bodies were taken by their fleeing comrades, Visaya said, adding that according to reliable informants however, the bodies were buried in known locations following the customary practice of the Moros.

The AFP chief said that sustained combat and non-combat military operations backed by the Police, government officials, and local residents have led to the release or escape of 14 kidnap victims, leaving only 12.

The AFP has launched a similar crackdown against terrorist groups in Central Mindanao, he said.
Some 44 combat operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and other foreign and local terrorists, particularly the Maute Group, resulted in the neutralization of 50 personalities and the confiscation of a large cache of high-powered firearms, ammunition, and other materials and equipment for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The incessant drive to ferret out and bring to the bar of justice the perpetrators of the bomb attack in the Davao City Night Market last Sept. 2 yielded breakthrough results, Visaya said.

Last Oct. 4 — or 32 days after the incident — three of its members were arrested.

TJ Tagaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha were collared in a checkpoint operation in Cotabato City.

At 2 a.m. of Oct. 4, Teng Mustafa, father of Musali, was arrested by combined military and police operatives serving a search warrant. Confiscated from the possession of the elder Mustapha were high-powered firearms and IED materials.

With the declaration of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, the AFP has committed a substantial number of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen as principal and reserve components doing mobile checkpoints, visibility patrols, and other activities to ensure suppression of lawless violence and preventing it from spreading in key cities of Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga, and cities in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, Visaya said.
Meanwhile, a tripartite agreement among Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines was forged to address maritime security concerns, such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, and other transnational crimes in southern Philippines.

The waters around, between and connecting the islands of Zamboanga, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu are vital sea lines of communication.

Visaya further reported that armed confrontation between the AFP and the NPA finally ceased after President Duterte restored the declaration of ceasefire on Aug. 21, after lifting it due to violations made by the rebel group.

The Chief Executive's gesture in restoring the erstwhile unilateral ceasefire declaration effectively reimposed the suspension of military operations earlier issued by Visaya to all field commanders.

Furthermore, peace-building efforts were exerted to ensure that line units were aware of the advocacy of the President, including the dissemination of the proposed reconstituted JASIG list and the release of detained alleged political prisoners, Visaya said.

The original JASIG list was meant to identify communist members who will join the peace negotiations with the NDF and will aid in the implementation of the ceasefire with the rebels.

On the other hand, the AFP attended the workshop of the combined Secretariat of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Davao City on August 28.

The workshop reviewed the signed agreements/guidelines of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities that will aid fresh talks with the MILF as well as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to come up with a more inclusive peace plan.

Visaya meanwhile said the AFP’s anti-illegal drug campaign was propelled by the signing of the Joint Letter of Instruction on Aug. 24, prescribing the mission, concept, and tasks of the AFP and the Philippine National Police in the war on drugs.

It also activated on July 24 with the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies Task Force Noah on intelligence and counterintelligence operations.

These inter-agency efforts enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of the steps taken to implement President Duterte's order to end the proliferation and use of illegal drugs in the country, Visaya said.

To manifest its adherence to the campaign, the AFP conducted random drug tests within its ranks.

Through Task Groups Jacob, Midas, Joshua, and Salamander, the AFP conducted random drug tests on 19,163 military and civilian personnel, leading to the identification of 44 individuals who tested positive for the use of certain illegal drugs.

To establish a drug-free country leading towards a peaceful and secure environment conducive to sustainable development, the AFP also supported the implementation of Oplan Tokhang of the PNP through the conduct of 169 anti-illegal drugs operations, resulting in the arrest of 191, surrender of 689, and killing of eight drug suspects, Visaya said.

Three AFP personnel offered their lives in this campaign while five others were wounded during the joint operations with PDEA against the group of Moks Masgal in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap, North Cotabato on August 14, Visaya said.

The AFP also opened its camps to host the rehabilitation facilities for drug dependents.

The Philippine Army committed areas in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal; Camp Alfredo Santos in Calauag, Quezon; Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz; Camp Kibaritan in Kalilangan, Bukidnon; Camp Lucero in Carmen, North Cotabato; Camp Paulino Santos in Alamada, North Cotabato; and the 401st Brigade Headquarters in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

The construction of the drug rehabilitation facility in Fort Ramon Magsaysay on a 10-hectare land in Nueva Ecija is nearing completion.

The project, a joint venture of the Department of Health and the Army Real Estate Office, is expected to accommodate 1,200 individuals.

The AFP also received its third Del Pilar class frigate on July 21.

Named and commissioned as BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), the new weather high endurance cutter is currently being prepared for its voyage to the country from the US.

Its crew is undergoing training and preparations prior to its departure from California in November.
The second strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao del Sur was also launched on Sept. 29 and is meant to add to the amphibious warfare capability of the AFP, as well as an alternative disaster response platform.
Five pilots and nine airmen from the Philippine Air Force also flew to the US on Sept. 30 to inspect the newly acquired C-130T Hercules transferred to expand the AFPs airlift capabilities.

The Philippine Army received additional 32 engineering equipment last August 30.

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