Marcos asks Armed Forces to dismantle rebel groups

From the Manila Standard (Jul 15, 2023): Marcos asks Armed Forces to dismantle rebel groups (By Charles Dantes)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday asked the military troops to bring all rebels back into the fold of the law by end of 2023.

Mr. Marcos made the remarks during his visit to Camp Juan Ponce of the 803rd Infantry (Peacemakers) Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Sumuroy, Northern Samar.

The president said his administration would be in full support to tend to rebels who would surrender.

“So, that is the plan. This is how we are going to move forward but this is all founded, it is all based, on the continuing good work that you put in every day,” said Mr. Marcos.

The 803rd IB has been instrumental in weakening the number of rebels in the region with over 6,200 of its sympathizers and personalities, and the dismantling of two guerilla fronts in Northern Samar.

“We have seen…..the increase in the firearms that have been neutralized and also the personalities that have been neutralized. Let us continue that trend,” the Chief Executive said.

The president said he could not wait to return to Northern Samar in the future to declare the area insurgency-free.

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