AFP Chief to military commanders: 'Exert utmost effort, dedication' in accomplishing tasks

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 5, 2020): AFP Chief to military commanders: 'Exert utmost effort, dedication' in accomplishing tasks (By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan)

CALOOCAN CITY, Oct. 5 (PIA) -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay has challenged military commanders to "exert utmost effort and dedication" in accomplishing their task in their respective areas of responsibility.

Gapay earlier met with his commanders and chiefs of offices of the AFP nationwide during the 3rd Quarter Command Conference over the weekend.

"The AFP has achieved significant gains in our campaigns in the areas of internal security and external defense. I urge everyone to continue to exert utmost effort and dedication in the performance of respective tasks towards the accomplishment of our mandate," Gapay said.

"In order to address the challenges of our campaign against the communist terrorist group, I direct our commanders to focus on the dismantling of the enemy's so-called guerilla fronts," he added.

Unit commanders reported the dismantling of eight guerilla fronts in the first three quarters of 2020, three from Mindanao, two from Visayas, and three from Luzon.

The AFP also prevented eight other guerilla fronts that were already dismantled from recovering this year.

This quarter alone, a total of 102 barangays were also cleared of the enemy's armed and propaganda units.

Moreover, 93 key leaders and high-value targets, along with 12 finance officers, were also neutralized.

AFP units were also able to deny the CTG with its financial and logistical resources by the confiscation of 44 firearms through the discovery of arms cache, 1,824 anti-personnel mines, and 141 CTG hideouts.

For these accomplishments, the Battle Streamer award was conferred to the different AFP units nationwide.

These are the 502nd Infantry Brigade and the 95th Infantry Battalion from Northern Luzon; the 902nd and 903rd Infantry Brigades and 9th and 31st Infantry Battalions from the Bicol Region; 403rd Infantry Brigade and 88th Infantry Battalion from Eastern Mindanao; the 102nd Infantry Brigade and 44th and 10th Infantry Battalions from Western Mindanao; and the 801st and 802nd Infantry Brigades and 46th and 14th Infantry Battalions from Visayas.

The AFP Chief also lauded the Commanders for their efficient management of their personnel, who, despite the on-going pandemic and the AFP's various tasks to contain it, was able to perform in their respective duties in internal security operations.

"I direct everyone to continue the careful management of personnel health protection to ensure the long-term readiness of our organization," Gapay said.

"Let us continue to endeavor in improving our performance at all levels. Let me again emphasize that we must always work as a team and aspire for institutional gains that will contribute to the attainment of our campaign goals and organizational objectives," he added. (PIA NCR)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055122