COMPOSTELA VALLEY, July 03 (PIA)--- The 10th Infantry “Agila” Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counts on convergence of efforts of the national line agencies and the local government to end insurgency.
In a press conference at Camp Manuel Yan in Mawab, Compostela Valley, 10th Inf. Div. commanding general Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo described as “whole of government approach” the convergence of government delivery of services.
The 10th ID along the local government of Davao City and the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in June this year brought the ARENA Serbisyo Caravan to Paquibato known as the lair of “Kumander Parago.”
The AFP also counted the ARENA Serbisyo Caravan as instrumental in gaining back mass-base support of insurgency problem areas in Davao Oriental which the 10th Inf. Div. last year declared as “insurgency-free.”
Bernardo was glad of the support and interest of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to introduce development initiatives particularly those that will lead to creating sources of livelihood for the people.
“People are expectant, we need to satisfy them para dili na sila ma-recruit (So they won’t get recruited),” he said.
Meanwhile, Bernardo bared that forces of the New People’s Army were noted thinning out and consequently problem areas “are getting few”.
Bernardo said that Kapalong and Talaingod towns are the remaining insurgency-concern areas in Davao del Norte, while Laak, Maco, Mabini, Mawab and Pantukan in Compostela Valley are also beset with the same concern.
Bernardo viewed this as shrinking areas of influence of the NPA but he saw the need for the armed forces to go “inch-by-inch” down to every barangay, closely tying up with municipal mayors of insurgency-affected areas.
He also banked on the “redeployment of forces” as a consequence of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) implementation expected to result in the pulling out of AFP forces in the Bangsamoro areas once the Bangsamoro police force will be put in place.
“We can demobilize their movement if there is counter mobilization and social pressure,” he said as he explained the need for the government to gain the support of people at the grassroots level.
“The strength of the enemy is not with firearms; their strength is still the people’s support,” he said. “If we can isolate them and sever their connection with the people, they will become insignificant no matter how many they are,” he added.
Aside from addressing the root-causes of insurgency, the 10th ID also adopts coverage areas strategy that goes beyond political boundaries to ward off NPAs taking refuge and building hide-outs at the boundaries of provinces.
He took as an instance the 701st Infantry Brigade which used to cover the entire province of Davao Oriental only but it now expands its area coverage towards neighboring Compostela Valley Province.
The 1003rd Infantry Brigade which covers the entire province of Davao del Norte also extends its reach and coverage in Davao City. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)
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