Southcom will be split into two commands — Esperon

To maximize the government offensive against communist rebels in Mindanao, newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon ordered the division of the military’s Southern Command into two major units.

In an interview with reporters shortly after the turnover of command ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday, Esperon bared his directives as he formally took over as the 35th Armed Forces chief from Gen. Generoso Senga, who retired from the service on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Following the formal turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon expressed his plans to divide Southcom into Southwestern and Southeastern Commands.

Esperon said that one of these units would be utilized in the full offensive against the communist New People’s Army while the other unit will maintain peace and order in known hotbeds of terror groups.

"Southcom is characterized by strong presence of secessionist movement which is now under control but we have some terrorists that we have to address," Esperon said.

Southcom chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon said he will be ready to implement the new plan.

"That is a decision of our new chief of staff and we are ready to follow as ground implementors," Habacon said.

He said the creation of another area command will give the military more focus in its offensive against the NPA.

Although Southcom had gained the upper hand in the offensive, Habacon stressed the need for sustained offensive against other armed groups and terrorists operating in Mindanao.

"The present area command of Southcom can also focus in the anti-terror campaign in the western side of Mindanao," he said.

Esperon said the plans would be finalized in the first week of August with the appointment of the respective chiefs of the new commands.

"As soon as possible, probably within the first week of August we will come up with the final delineation, the wordings of these have been going on under the term of General Senga," he said.

Esperon explained the split of Southcom is necessary for better control of the troops and to put more focus in the fight against the NPA in the eastern part of Mindanao.

Southcom, which has responsibility over the whole of Mindanao, is composed of three Army divisions, two joint task forces, two naval forces, a tactical operations wing of the air force, two elite Special Forces Battalions, and one company of troops from the Light Reaction Battalion.

He said there would be some redeployment of troops where their presence is mostly needed.

"There will be emphasis, there will be additional recruitment as of now but we will shift the forces as needed," Esperon said.

The number of troops for redeployment will entirely depend on tactical conditions in the area of operations in Mindanao, he said.

Former Armed Forces chief general Narciso Abaya, president and chief executive of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said there had been an informal division of operational responsibility in the Southcom with the Philippine National Police (PNP) during his term.

Considering the size of the Southcom and its area of responsibility, Abaya said its previous commanders found it difficult to command a large force with multiple assignments.

Abaya agreed Southcom should be divided into two commands with a delineation of responsibility and missions.

"I think the vast area of Mindanao being under one commander is a little beat unwieldy," Abaya said.

Abaya said the primary reason for the division of the Southcom is to carry out the presidential order against the NPA in a two-pronged approach.

"Dividing Mindanao into Eastern and Western commands will give focus to that area command to campaign against the communists in northeastern Mindanao," Abaya added.

Official sources disclosed the new area command will be situated in Davao City with the 10th Army Division.

This means that the 4th Army Division and the 10th Division will form part of the new area command while the 6th and 1st Army divisions will remain under Southcom. — With Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude