Esperon said President Arroyo approved the recruitment of 9,000 members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (Cafgus) and 3,000 troopers to be deployed in areas threatened by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as part of the government’s intensified counterinsurgency drive.
He said the hiring of more soldiers and militiamen is part of the President’s plan to neutralize the NPA by 2010.
"Armed Forces efforts will concentrate on the most advanced guerrilla fronts in the identified priority areas of our reinvigorated ISO (internal security operations) in order to relegate their capability to an inconsequential level, meaning the reduction of their capability by 50 percent," Esperon said after he attended a command conference on the Internal Security Operations (ISO) Third Quarter Assessment for Year 2006.
Among those who attended the command conference were Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jose Reyes and Navy chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga.
Esperon said the military is winning the campaign against the NPA and other terrorist groups in the country.
"Let me say that the AFP’s collective efforts have yielded encouraging results. In this connection, I am commending our troops, especially those in the frontlines for a job well done," he said.
Esperon said Mrs. Arroyo, as commander-in-chief, also approved the resumption of the military’s "Balik-Baril" program wherein the government provides livelihood assistance to rebel returnees who will surrender the firearms.
"This effort shall include preventing their (NPA) expansion into white areas (areas not infested by rebels) to cut off operational, logistical and financial support (to rebels)," he said.
He said the new militia members will be deployed together with regular troops in various guerrilla fronts. The new militiamen and troopers will undergo training on ISO operations and will be issued the necessary combat equipment.
Esperon said the Cafgus will serve as village defense units against NPA attacks.
The new soldiers will be recruited in several phases and will later be integrated with existing military battalions.
The military had identified priority areas in Southern Luzon, Bicol, Samar and CARAGA region.