Kalinaw News: 5ID remains a formidable force in defeating enemies of the state-General Sobejana

From Kalinaw News (May 28, 2021): 5ID remains a formidable force in defeating enemies of the state-General Sobejana



CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela- “I am very delighted with the performance of 5th Infantry Division. You were able to continue your mission and doing your mandate as the protector of the people and defender of our territory,” said Gen Cirilito E Sobejana, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the Rewarding Ceremony at Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela on May 26, 2021.

Gen Sobejana praised the accomplishments of 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army that contributed to the success of the anti-insurgency campaign in the country specially in Northern Luzon. “5ID plays a major role in keeping peace and security of Northern Luzon. The Star Division has always been a formidable force in defeating enemies of the state.”

He commended the full-blown efforts in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict as it successfully paralyzed the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) organization in Cagayan Valley Region through the death of Alyas Yuni, Commander of the said terrorist organization.

It can be recalled that Alyas Yuni or Rosalio Canubas, Commander of the Regional Operations Command (ROC) and the Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG), Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley (KR-CV) of the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was killed during an encounter between the troops of 86IB and the terrorist group in San Mariano Sur, San Guillermo, Isabela on March 15, 2021. During the encounter, the NPA leader was fatally hit and his comrades brought him in Barangay Dingading, San Guillermo, Isabela in an attempt to hide him from the pursuing government troops. The fleeing NPAs buried him in a shallow grave in the hinterlands of the said barangay. The pursuing troops were able to locate where they buried the NPA leader through the continuous information shared by the locals. In coordination with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and PNP San Guillermo, the government troops exhumed the cadaver on March 17, 2021.

Alyas Yuni became a full-time Communist Party member on August 02, 2002. From that year up to 2005, he was the leader of the Regional extortion group of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee or SMRC. His notoriety in conducting terrorism was showcase in his key role as terrorist leader of a Regional Guerilla Unit in Davao Region. He also became the first Deputy Secretary of Western Minadano Regional Party Committee, and Head of ROC and RSDG. And in 2015, Alyas Yuni together with more than 50 terrorist NPA regular members from Mindanao were transferred to Cagayan Valley Region. He reorganized the KR-CV and established the RSDG and Komiteng Larangang Guerilla- Quirino-Nueva Vizcaya that was eventually dismantled by the Joint Task Force-TALA in February 2021.

With the capability to neutralize CPP-NPA’s terroristic actions, Gen Sobejana rewarded 86IB- the main effort in neutralizing Alyas Yuni, the amount of 2 million pesos. “Unsurprisingly, the 5ID being composed of very resilient and competent leaders and competent and dedicated as well as committed personnel who can take on any challenge, that is why the recent accomplishments of the unit are truly worthy of praises and admiration.”

The death of alyas Yuni also resulted to the peacefulness and progress in Cagayan Valley Region as infrastructure projects are successively implemented that benefited the people.

On the other hand, MGen Laurence E Mina, Commander of 5ID, thanked the Chief of Staff in boosting the morale of the men and women of 5ID as well as giving support to the troops. He then reaffirmed the Startroopers’ commitment to duty. “We will continue to push harder and sustain the momentum of our gains for the people we have sworn to serve and the country that we are bound to protect” MGen Mina said in his remarks.

Meanwhile, this is the first visit of Gen Sobejana in Headquarters 5ID as the 55th Chief-of-Staff of the AFP. He was then the Commanding General of the Philippine Army when he last visited 5ID in September 2020.

Gen Sobejana is a recipient of Medal of Valor- the highest military honor awarded in the country for conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/5id-remains-a-formidable-force-in-defeating-enemies-of-the-state-general-sobejana/