By Priam Nepomuceno/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., has directed all military units to take the “extra mile” in neutralizing all threat groups in the country.
“As we intensify our efforts against the different threat groups and the support to the different agencies and units of our government, I am directing the commanders at all levels to take the extra mile,” he said during the 2nd Quarter Command Conference held at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Club, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday (July 24).
Present were all commanders of the AFP major services, unified commands, AFP-wide service support units, and other major ground units of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
“Our mission accomplishment is directly proportional to the capacity and capability of our personnel and units to execute their mission. At the end of the day, it is our leadership that matters,” Madrigal stressed.
The meeting covered significant accomplishments in defeating communist and local terrorist groups. It also assessed ongoing security campaigns targeted at ending all threat groups as well as the AFP’s peace building activities.
Barely five months before the year ends, the AFP chief said the military has achieved a lot in bringing the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) to its breaking point. However, he said there is still more work to do.
Since the start of the year to July 24, the AFP has already neutralized 6,028 communist terrorists including supporters.
Of which, 95 regular New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed in encounters, 145 were apprehended and 5,788 have surrendered through the help of local government units.
A total of 945 high-powered and low-powered firearms were seized during the period while 260 NPA lairs were seized.
The AFP is set to fast-track the unification and harmonization of all government efforts on peace and development.
Madrigal also said community support program, the main strategy to dismantle the CTG’s support structure, will also be strengthened. Meanwhile, the AFP has neutralized 198 local terrorists since the start of the year.
Of this, 89 were members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who suffered 53 casualties, 24 surrendered, and 12 captured.
Nevertheless, the AFP is intensifying its operational tempo, particularly in Mindanao to dismantle the Abu Sayyaf Group. Intelligence collection and active coordination with local government units will also be bolstered to achieve this target.
Madrigal also reminded all military officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian professionals of the AFP to lead by example, manage time efficiently and exercise good judgment and quick thinking.
“Together with our counterparts and other stakeholders, let us play an integral part of a whole so we can triumphantly attain our aspirations and emerge stronger as a nation. At the end of the day, our collective efforts and commitment can make a whole lot of difference,” he concluded.
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