3ID sees cracks in rebel movement

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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – The rebel movement has considerably weakened, according to the commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) based in Jamindan, Capiz.

“During the 1970s and 1980s they had the capacity to annihilate. Pag nag-ambush sila or nag-raid they executed perfectly. Nakukuha nila daming baril ng sundalo at marami napapatay. This time they cannot do that,” said Major General Jon Aying.

Through the years the “quantity and quality” of rebels suffered, he said.

“’Yung mga leaders nila hindi na masyadong ideological, mahinana ‘yung political (consciousness). They are more on just controlling their people with their guns,” said Aying.

With this, the Army general expressed confidence of meeting their target of crushing the insurgency in Panay Island by the end of 2018.

“Pagsinabi nating crush, by 2018 or at the end of 2018, we would have already achieved a very good level of (insurgency) suppression. Hindi na nila magawa ‘yung mga pag-raid katulad sa Maasin or mang-ambush sila na very fatal,” said Aying.

In June this year, a band of rebels raided the municipal police station of Maasin, Iloilo. Five months after, they ambushed policemen also in Maasin.

To hasten the eradication of insurgents, the 3ID has started forming a new battalion. It is now scouting for non-commissioned officers who would form the backbone of this unit.

Officers to be selected include sergeant major, sergeants, battalion staff down to platoon sergeants, squad leaders, and fire team leaders.

“After the graduation of our candidate soldiers – we now have 300 — we will deploy them,” said Aying. “We will align soldiers in other battalions so that the new battalion would not be totally manned by candidate soldiers. There will be balance in our various battalions and more or less they will have the same capabilities to secure both out internal and external defences.”/PN
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