ILOILO City – “Finish the fight against insurgency.”
This was the marching order of Major General Marion Sison, commander of Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), to battalion commanders in Panay Island.
Last week, the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Janiuay, Iloilo and the 12th IB in Calinog town got their new commanders.
Sison ordered 82IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Joebert Pimentel and 12IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Vicel Jan Garsuta Sison to work closely with the local government units, all partners, and stakeholders to facilitate the dismantling of the remaining weakened guerilla fronts in Panay Island.
“To new battalion commanders, finish the fight and dismantle the guerilla fronts as we are posed to declare Negros Island in the state of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS). The dismantling of the two guerilla fronts in Panay will also pave the way for declaring Panay Island as SIPS,” Sison said.
He added: “We cannot accomplish this mission without the support and collaboration of our stakeholders and local chief executives serving as chairmen of the Local Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC). It is crucial to coordinate, cooperate and maintain open communication with our partners as they play a vital role in helping us bring an end to insurgency in Panay. It is essential to recognize that the resolution of this problem requires not only military action but also the effective implementation of Task Force ELCAC as the best solution,” he added.
Sison further said that Central Visayas is also among their focus. They continue convincing rebels to return to the fold of the law and arrest those who have pending criminal cases.
Meanwhile, a wanted New People’s Army (NPA) rebel suspect was arrested in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Feb. 6 by the joint operatives of the 94th IB, Regional Maritime Unit 6 and Negros Occidental Police Office.
Elmer “Digoy” Quillano is facing seven counts of frustrated murder./PN
