Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, known in the military as the “alliance builder,” told his troops to prepare for a drastic shift in their campaign against communist insurgency by transforming themselves into “community facilitators” while “fiercely fighting” the rebels with a combination of guns and civil-military projects.
“We will promote harmonious relationships. We will seek the involvement of the community, fully knowing that insurgency can never be solved using military solution alone. We will serve as the bridge so that social service will be felt, not only in the far-flung areas but by the majority, if not all of our constituents,” he said.
“We will make our people see their soldiers as human beings similar to that of an ordinary civilian, but who have chosen to take the road less traveled to make a difference, and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and democracy,” he added.
Burgos, member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988, was installed over the weekend as the commander of the 2nd ID, which has operational jurisdictions over Region 4A (Calabarzon) and Region 4B (except Palawan), by Army Chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto, who urged him to continue the Army’s operational momentum for Southern Tagalog.
“I expect nothing but excellence from him now that he is already a Division Commander,” Alberto added, as he praised Burgos during his leadership of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, the unit in charge of Calabarzon.
Burgos was known as the best commander to have ever led the 202nd Brigade, which under his helm, the unit was credited for its pioneering effort in strongly involving communities and other stakeholders in the anti-insurgency campaign in Calabarzon, thus plummeting NPA’s movement in Southern Tagalog.
The unit was also credited for seizing several camps and temporary encampments while neutralizing key rebel leaders and their followers, and denying NPA’s access to their usual areas in the outlying villages of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.
Under Burgos, Southern Tagalog became as the Armed Forces’ pioneering area for the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program that began in 2018.
“We are now in the position to deliver the coup de grâce so that genuine and lasting peace will be finally attained. Thus, the call for unity shall not only be confined with our organization. The call for unity shall be our battle cry as we engage our stakeholders and forge partnerships with the different sectors in our area,” Burgos said.
“We will compliment this call for peace with focused and intelligence-driven military operations against the enemies of the state. We will do this with a firm and solid right hand and, at the same time, with an open and welcoming left hand,” he added.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/15/new-army-chief-bares-new-strategy-vs-npa-guerrillas/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.