New Westmincom chief given 6 months to defeat ASG, Maute terror group, and illegal drugs

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 17): New Westmincom chief given 6 months to defeat ASG, Maute terror group, and illegal drugs

All unit commanders of the military forces here in Western Mindanao area had been ordered to personally lead their men to victory against the enemies of the state.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez, newly-installed Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, issued the order on Tuesday as he was given six months to defeat the Abu Sayyaf Group, Maute terror group and illegal drugs.

“Do not let your lieutenants fight for their lives. You have to fight with them, with our men, lead them to victory,” Galvez stressed.

Galvez said he was always with his men leading from the front line “in more than 40 encounters” during his stint as former commander of the Army’s 1st Scout Ranger Battalion.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Ano installed Galvez on Tuesday as the new Westmincom commander replacing Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo Dela Cruz.

“I want you to roll your sleeves and start working as Westmincom commander,” Ano told Galvez as they immediately flew to Tawi-Tawi and Sulu provinces after the change of command ceremony.

Galvez told all the unit commanders to do their homework in planning and preparation and execute it with accuracy and precision.

“Gentlemen train hard and fight hard. We cannot win the Abu Sayyaf by sticking to the box-type defense strategy and maintain sector defense framework. We should be creative. Get out of our comfort zone and device a plan in which we can fight accurately and overwhelm the enemy completely,” he said.

He said he have applied such kind of principle during the 2002 all-out war with the Abu Sayyaf Group then led by Khadaffy Janjalani, Isnilon Hapilon and Radulan Sahiron.

“The results were very bloody, but we never lost a battle and never lost even a single rifle to the enemy,” he said.

He also told all the unit commanders to involve the active participation of local government units, police, tribal leaders, and religious sector “in our fight against the ASG, Maute terror and against illegal drugs.”

“They are the core group that can create a strategic alliance in isolating our enemies,” he added.

Ano has assured Galvez of his full support in addressing the problems in the area of jurisdiction of Westmincom.

Dela Cruz, who was replaced by Galvez, is set to assume as the new Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=955883