‘Join new AFP chief in fight vs terrorism’
Credit to Author: Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino, TMT| Date: Sat, 04 Jan 2020 16:18:22 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte has prodded soldiers to “work in unison” with Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in the fight against “lawlessness and terrorism.”
On Saturday, the President led the turnover of military leadership at Camp Aguinaldo, the national headquarters of the AFP, in Quezon City.
“I trust that you will work in unison with the incoming chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. as you remain steadfast in protecting our country against lawlessness and terrorism,” Duterte said in his speech during the change of command and retirement ceremony in honor of Noel Clement, the outgoing chief of staff of the country’s Armed Forces.
“Under the command of [Lt.] Gen. Santos, I am confident that the AFP will further achieve more milestones in the campaign to protect our freedom and democratic values. It is my hope that you will carry out programs that will elevate the competence, the probity and integrity of our uniformed personnel,” he added.
The President said, “May this momentous occasion renew your commitment to defend our homeland from lingering and emerging security threats as you uphold the safety of our families and communities.”
“Together, let us embody solidarity as we pursue a more peaceful future for all,” he added.
The pursuit of peace continues in southern Mindanao where the proclamation issued by the President in 2016 declaring a state of national emergency remained even as martial law in the region expired as 2019 ended.
Military rule in Mindanao lasted for two years and seven months.
The President declared martial law in the South after the Islamic State-linked Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23, 2017.
Congress later approved his requests for an extension.
In his speech during the change of command, Duterte said, “Be assured that this administration will always assist the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as we overcome the challenges we face as a nation.”
Also in the same speech, he described as “successful” Clement’s tour of duty as AFP chief.
“Your stint at the helm of our military will be remembered for your principled and irreproachable leadership in fighting insurgency and securing our sovereignty,” the President said.
“I likewise laud your spirited efforts in spearheading the humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations of the AFP. Your faithful adherence to the military professional service inspires your troops to continue serving with valor, heroism and selflessness,” Duterte added.
As he took his oath, the new AFP leader vowed to neutralize the communist insurgency through localized peace talks under his stint.
“For the national peace talks, that are on the table, what we are doing on the ground is we are focusing on localized peace talks [in various provinces] through local chief executives, [who] really on the ground,” Santos told reporters in a chance interview after he was sworn in.
He said his primary focus under his term was to end the local armed conflict with the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“To end the local armed conflict with communists, that is our focus [because] it’s gaining ground,” Santos added.
“We will immediately neutralize those who insist [on gaining] political power through armed struggle,” he said in his own speech during the turnover.
Santos assured that the communist insurgency would end under the Duterte administration.
“Not within my term, within the term of the President, we are confident we will end that before the end of the President’s term,” he said.
Santos recognized the importance of a “whole-nation approach” in combatting the NPA.
“In this whole-nation approach, this approach addresses the motivation for insurgency and hopefully [it will] put an end to [a] treacherous life cycle,” he said.
On the localized peace talks, he cited the experience of Davao City under Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio where many rebels surrendered and were given jobs.
Previously, Mayor Duterte wanted the exclusion of Davao City from the Christmas holiday ceasefire and the resumption of the peace talks with the CPP because the city’s Peace 911 was more “effective.”
Davao’s Peace 911 is a comprehensive peace-building program of the city under its mayor, the President’s daughter.
“The AFP can now focus its resources, manpower and firepower on the remaining communist terrorist armed groups who insist on not giving up the armed struggle in spite of the goodwill shown to them by the administration,” Santos said.
Last December, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said a total of P171.6 million in financial assistance through Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) was received by 2,882 rebels who surrendered from July 2018 to November 2019.
The DILG said of the total surrenderers, 2,635 former rebels received immediate assistance.
“The E-Clip will be here to assist rebels who want to change the story of their lives, those who want to abandon the hostility of armed conflicts. Hindi kayo pababayaan ng inyong pamahalaan (The government will not neglect you),” DILG spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a news briefing.
Malaya added that the approach of the government on the peace talks with the communist groups is now localized.
Aside from the ending the communist insurgency, Santos said he was also focusing on fighting other terrorist groups, odernizing the AFP, achieving peace and development in Mindanao and helping the Philippine National Police in its war on drugs.
“Likewise, the AFP will continue to be proactive against local terrorist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf,” he added.
Santos’ last posting before his appointment as AFP chief was as chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command.
He also commanded the Nueva Ecija-based 7th Infantry Division.
Santos is a decorated military official, receiving medals and awards such as Distinguished Service Star Medal, two Gold Cross Medals, 9 Bronze Cross Medals, 40 Military Merit Medals and 10 Military Commendation Medals.
The PNP Officer in Charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, previously congratulated Santos, his mistah in the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986.
“We hope for him the best and we will be in support of his leadership,” Gamboa said.
Meanwhile, Santos’ predecessor said he believes that the former would serve well as the AFP chief of staff.
“The man that will take over the helm of the AFP from here on is a man of solid reputation and straightforward in his pronouncements. I am confident that your new chief of staff is determined and capable as a leader,” Clement said in his speech.
He was appointed as AFP chief last September 24, replacing Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.
With a report from Darwin pesco