Calamity work hampers AFP deadline to end insurgency

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City , Philippines  – The military may not be able to meet its goal of stamping out the communist insurgency by next year because its forces are now mostly engaged in disaster duties, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said yesterday.

“Our anti-insurgency operations ay maantala (will be delayed) as our soldiers are now deployed for disaster duties for the last 45 days without respite,” Teodoro said in his speech at the Philippine Military Academy where he was guest of honor during the institution’s 111th foundation anniversary rites.

“Internal security targets may not be met,” he said.

Teodoro said most of the military’s personnel and materiel are being utilized for relief efforts and for rebuilding areas devastated by deadly weather disturbances in the past few weeks.

But he stressed the soldiers have not let down their guard and are in “active defense mode” against security threats, including those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the terror group Abu Sayyaf.

“Right now, we are not into any active internal security operations. We are only on an active defense while our troops are engaged in disaster rehabilitation operations,” Teodoro said.

Earlier, President Arroyo ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to finish the country’s insurgency problems before the end of her term next year.

The AFP then headed by Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., now Presidential Management Staff chief, responded by dispatching more troops to communist-infested areas across the country.

Esperon’s successor, Gen. Alexander Yano - now ambassador to Brunei - had also achieved breakthroughs in the drive against the communist New People’s Army rebels.

But early this week, some 30 communist guerrillas raided an Army patrol base in Monkayo, Compostela Valley and snatched its commander, Cpl. Dominador Alegre.

The raiders also took off with 18 high-powered firearms from the 18 militiamen defending the detachment without even firing a single shot.

AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado was unperturbed by the daring raid, saying armed communist rebels and their supporters “are fast declining.” 

 Appeal to cadets

Teodoro, who is set to resign on Nov.16 to run for president under the administration party, bade farewell to cadets and officers and urged them to “carry on in highest traditions of military excellence, honor and greatness for our country and people.”

“I bid each and every one of you farewell. This is the last foundation day that I will participate in as secretary of national defense,” he said.

“I thank each and every one of you for three foundation days, for the time that you have supported the reforms that we have sought to introduce which you embrace even though difficult, whole-heartedly and willingly,” Teodoro said in his farewell speech.

He said he will no longer be at the graduation of first-class cadets in February.

He said that had it not been for the support of the PMA officers and cadets, the reforms introduced by the DND could not have succeeded.

As DND chief, Teodoro has ordered the strict enforcement of the PMA’s honor code: “Not to Lie, Not to Steal and Not to Cheat.” Violators of the code face outright dismissal from the premier military institution.