Army’s 3ID vows to beat anti-insurgency timeline

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division said the government’s goal to win its anti-insurgency campaign before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is still achievable.

Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3rd ID commander, said they’re doing their best to meet their counter-insurgency target.

“Ayaw nating mangako at baka sabihin nila na puro tayo pangako. We will just do it in deeds. More than the words that we are going to say, what’s important is we will do everything that we can to beat the timeline and the deadline,” Arevalo said.

But with how the way things are going, Arevalo is confident that the rebel movement will be toppled soon.

“Maganda naman ang nangyayari. Maraming na-neutralize from the enemy side at tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating pagtugis at maigting pa rin ang ating kampanya laban sa ating mga kalaban para nga bago matapos ang termino ng adninistrasyon na ito ay matapos natin ang problema,” he said.

Arevalo said they could not possibly bring the number down to zero “but what’s important is we could reduce their number to a negligible number.”

By negligible, the 3rd ID chief said they could reduce the enemy’s number to about 20-30 persons per front.

“So far, malaki na ang ibinaba since I was here more than two years ago. I’ve seen the improvement of our situation,” he said.

Arevalo became the brigade commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade based in Camp Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo in 2018 and the 303rd IB in Murcia, Negros Occidental in 2019.

“Of course, there are few who still project that they are still a force to reckon with. They’re doing more of liquidation or harassment of detachments, but we would not be swayed by it. That’s a sign of their weakness,” he said.

These acts, Arevalo added, have strengthened their resolved to even intensify their campaign against insurgency.

The success in the anti-insurgency campaign could be attributed to support and cooperation of the people, especially those in the rebel-affected areas

“Kaya marami ang nag-su-surrender. Marami ang nagbibigay ng impormasyon. Maraming tumutulong sa atin. Ang nakikita ko dyan, kung magtuloy-tuloy lang ang suporta ng taong-bayan sa atin, we could definitely beat this,” he said.

He also cited the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) citing that anti-insurgency campaign is more than just a work of the military and the police.

“Under ELCAC, the full force of the government is working to give the services that are intended for the people,” he said.

That’s why, Arevalo is saddened by reports of ELCAC’s budget being slashed.

“Sana hindi matuloy. Nakita naman natin yung impact ng ELCAC kaya yung mga kalaban ay pilit ‘yan na lina-lobby na tinatanggal which shows na effective sya, otherwise hindi mo babatuhin ang namumungang puno,” he said.

For Arevalo, NTF-ELCAC is practically a tree that is bearing fruit.

“Malaki ang impact nyan especially the development projects given to the affected barangays,” he said.

He again cited that anti-insurgency program is beyond military-police aspect but the government services that should be extended to those people who need them.

“Kung babawasan nila ang ELCAC, it’s not the military or police who would suffer but the people of rebel-affected areas,” he said.