NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, LtGen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro applauded the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) for its campaign victories during his visit to Headquarters EastMinCom here on November 12.
During the Campaign Update Briefing, EastMinCom Commander LtGen. Greg T. Almerol presented the Command’s accomplishments from the 1st Quarter to the 4th Quarter of 2022 under the Campaign Plan “Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao.”
Over the said period, EastMinCom’s various military operations led to the neutralization of 706 Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members and supporters with 57 high-value individuals, as well as the recovery of 598 firearms and 116 anti-personnel mines.
This also includes the dismantling of eight CTG Guerilla Fronts and four Vertical Units, and the clearing of 56 barangays from CTG influence, which led to the declaration of the Davao Region as “insurgency-free” on October 12, 2022.
“I am confident and proud to report to our Chief of Staff, AFP that we are on the right track in our campaign progress. But even as we recognize this accomplishment, we know very well that we cannot rest on our laurels for the ultimate victory is yet to be achieved,” LtGen. Almerol said during the event.
“Rest assured, sir, that there will be no let up in defeating the remaining CTGs in order to maintain peace, progress, and stability in this part of the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the traditional “Talk to the Troops,” the AFP top brass praised the immense individual and collective contributions of EastMinCom towards the attainment of AFP’s mission.
“One thing is definite: that the Eastern Mindanao Command has contributed a lot in the attainment of the mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Hindi natin maitatanggi ‘yan (We cannot deny that). This is manifested by the reduction of different power factors of the enemy,” he said.
“In the soonest possible time, we will be able to declare strategic victory in some of the areas that fall within the joint operational area of the Eastern Mindanao Command,” the Chief of Staff assured.
During his first official visit, LtGen. Bacarro was accorded full military honors by the Command and welcomed by LtGen. Almerol with the Commanders of Joint Task Force (JTF) Agila, JTF Diamond, JTF Seahawk, Tactical Operations Wing – Eastern Mindanao, other Ground Commanders, and the Officers, Enlisted Personnel, and Civilian Human Resources of EastMinCom.
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