NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) through the leadership of Commander LtGen. Greg T. Almerol marked its 15th Founding Anniversary through a virtual celebration on September 10, 2021, by putting on center stage its milestones and contributions.
In spite of the challenges that the country is facing during the pandemic, EastMinCom continues to operate with a sense of normalcy by adopting the new normal as it celebrated its 15th Founding Anniversary with a theme, “EMC @15: Bringing sustainable hope for Peace and Development towards a better Eastern Mindanao.”
A series of activities were conducted by the Command including fun bike, fun golf, virtual press conference, and bestowing awards to outstanding Officers, enlisted personnel, civilian human resource, and stakeholders for their exemplary services and contribution to the success of the Command’s campaign for peace and development.
In his speech, LtGen. Almerol expressed his gratitude to no less than Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte-Carpio for gracing the virtual celebration and also thanked the Commander-in-Chief, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Senator Bong Go, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Jose Faustino Jr. for their warm video messages.
“The past year has been very different in living memory as the world changed profoundly because of the unpredictable nature and life-changing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to express my solidarity with everyone in this challenging time,” LtGen. Almerol said.
LtGen. Almerol presented the accomplishments of the Command from August 2020 until the present where the Eastmincom units managed to weaken five Guerrilla Fronts (GFs) and dismantled another four GFs namely GF 4A, GF South, GF88 and GF North out of the 18 GFs that the Command is confronting in Eastern Mindanao.
Through the Command’s relentless pressure through combat operations in affected communities and intensified stakeholder engagements/partnership, a total of 276 regular New People’s Army members, 137 Milisyang Bayan members, 29 Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad members, and 1,124 Underground Mass Organization members surrendered and withdrew their support to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.
Moreover, the Command was able to neutralize a total of 32 NPA leaders which included the surrender of Arian Jane Ochate Ramos alias Marikit, the Secretary of Guerilla Front 55, Sub-Regional Command 5, Southern Mindanao Regional Command last August 01, 2021.
A total of 399 assorted firearms were captured by EastMinCom troops, 205 of which were seized through the conduct of Focused Military Operations while 194 were recovered through surrender.
Through the the Command’s Community Support Programs, it was able to clear 240 barangays from the NPA’s influence out of the 283 target barangays. A total of 11 Focused Areas (FocArs) were also cleared out of its 35 targeted FocArs.
On top of these, EastMinCom was also proactive in helping uplift the lives of Indigenous Peoples affected by armed conflict through the turnover of 1,193 housing units since 2020.
These accomplishments were deemed significant in quelling the decades-old communist insurgency as it brought down the strength of the rebels and also lead other NPA members to surrender peacefully.
“Amidst our circumstances, today’s celebration is an experience that allows us to reflect on how Team EastMinCom values the people who have shaped our path. The profound tradition of service excellence was built by the solid imprints of former Commanders and the proactive leadership of our current line unit Commanders and Component Units from the Joint Task Force Diamond, Joint Task Force Agila, Joint Task Force Haribon, Joint Task Force Seahawk, and the Tactical Operations Wing, Eastern Mindanao,” LtGen. Almerol stressed.
The EastMinCom Commander also did not fail to honor the lives and sacrifices of fallen comrades who died in the name of patriotism and service.
“While we are proud to celebrate all these achievements, we also honor and remember our fallen comrades whose selfless courage brought peace in Eastern Mindanao. Today, as in the previous years, we recognized their noble sacrifices,” LtGen. Almerol added.
Under his leadership, LtGen. Almerol assured the public that EastMinCom will continue to do its best in addressing the challenges of insurgency by maximizing the best practices and lessons learned from actual experiences in its operations and exploiting every opportunity to shape the operational environment to the Command’s advantage.
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
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