National priority

From the Mindanao Times (Oct 30): National priority

Davao tops the list in fight vs communist group

THE PHILIPPINE Army said President Rodrigo Duterte’s home region of Davao will be the national priority in the intensified operations against the communists as the region has a strong presence of the rebels.

Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, the army’s commanding general, said seasoned and veteran communist rebels are in Davao because they can easily get money from extorting business companies and plantations.

“We have to convince the businessmen, particularly the plantation owners, not to give in to the demands of the group,” Bautista told reporters in an interview during the send-off ceremony of the 89th Infantry Battalion in the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) headquarters at Camp Manuel Yan Sr. in Mawab, Compostela Valley. “They should not support the group.”

He said the NPA can stage large-scale offensives in the region because they have the resources.

The army chief said fighting the NPAs in Davao is a “challenge.”

President Duterte has repeatedly stated that the fight against the communist group will be his priority after the Marawi Crisis.

Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the newly assumed chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has already ordered his subordinates to go against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)- New People’s Army (NPA), which the military called as the CNN.

“It (the fight against CNN) is the top priority,” Bautista said. “We’re focused on fighting CNN.”

He said the destruction and atrocities committed by the communists should end.

Bautista could not state how many battalions will be sent to Davao to crush the NPAs.

A new battalion has been activated in the region while another battalion returned to Davao after the Marawi crisis.

In a separate interview, Maj. Gen. Noel Clement, 10ID commander, said they are giving the opportunity to the NPAs to surrender and avail the government services.

“If they want to surrender to avail the services, then they can,” Clement said.

 

http://mindanaotimes.net/national-priority/