5ID-PA accomplishments cited during 36th anniversary

From the Philippine News Agency (May 18): 5ID-PA accomplishments cited during 36th anniversary

Camp Melchor Dela Cruz, Gamu, Isabela -- The 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (5ID-PA) commander here on Thursday cited the accomplishments of the army division last year during the 36th founding anniversary culminating activity held inside the Camp here.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was guest of honor during the founding anniversary held at the camp's grandstand.

M/Gen, Paul Atal, commanding general of the 5ID-PA, said the army division had done a lot to protect the state and the people it serve.

The 5ID-PA area of operations include the whole Cagayan Valley region, the Cordillera Administrative Region and some areas of Ilocos Region.

Atal said the army division had conducted anti-insurgency operations; disaster preparedness; search and rescue operations; humanitarian, medical and dental missions; and supported the government's anti-illegal drug and anti-illegal logging operations of law enforcers.

He said there were a total of 38 New People's Army rebels neutralized and 65 various guns and rifles confiscated during their operations. The army division commander emphasized the capture of a "high value target", a CPP/NPA/NDF leader.

“Aside from the anti-insurgency operations, the soldiers of the division also help in enforcing forestry laws that resulted to the apprehension of 33,000 board feet of forest products and supported the police in various anti-drug operations in its area of operations,” Atal said.

Atal lauded the officers and men of the army division for obeying orders from the higher headquarters which resulted to a peaceful Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos regions.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/988839