With barely six months before President Benigno Aquino III
completes his term of office, Army chief, Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, expressed his
hope that Brig. Gen. Harold Cabreros, the newly-installed commander of the 3 rd
Infantry Division, will defeat the CPP-NPA and end the insurgency problem in
the three regions of the Visayas by 2016.
Año said he is confident that Cabreros, who was responsible
for the neutralization of top Mindanao NPA leader Leoncio Pitao, alias kumander
Parago, will be able to achieve it, citing his vast experience and outstanding
leadership skills.
Cabreros, former deputy commander of the AFP Eastern
Mindanao Command, replaced Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Mutiangpili, who served as
acting 3ID commander for more than a month, in a ceremony held Dec. 23 at Camp
Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.
The 3ID supervises the internal peace security operations in
Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, and Central
Visayas , with 10 provinces already declared as peaceful and ready
for further development.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
In response to the challenge, Cabreros said he aims to
secure and sustain the gains of 3ID in its internal peace and security efforts,
through “Bayanihan”.
Aside from clearing the remaining insurgent-affected areas
in the 3ID area of responsibility, Cabreros said he will also continue to work
closely with its partners and stakeholders in nation-building activities and in
humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in the three Visayas
regions.
The NPA still has at least about 400 armed followers in
Panay and Negros islands.
Cabreros also encouraged the 3ID troopers to continue to
obey the oath that they took in serving the country and the people. “Let us
remain professional and continue to serve selflessly with the highest degree of
commitment and dedication in the performance of our duty, with utmost respect
for the rights of our people.”
Meanwhile, Año acknowledged the significant accomplishments
of Maj. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the former commander of 3ID, who is now
serving as commander of the AFP's Eastern Mindanao Command, starting November.
Under the leadership of Guerrero, from September 2014 to
November 2015, the 3ID was able to neutralize 64 members of the New People's
Army, including the arrest of Ma. Concepcion Araneta-Bocala, secretary of the
Komiteng Rehiyonal-Panay, and facilitated the surrender of 71 NPA rebels.
Military records also showed that the 3ID recovered 15
high-powered firearms, and 25 low-powered guns, and discovered 24 NPA
encampments.*
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/December/28/negor2.htm
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