New AFP operations chief vows to beef up security plan

MANILA, Philippines - The new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief of staff for operations yesterday vowed to beef up assistance to field troops and fast-track campaign plan on the ground. 

Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad succeeded last Friday Maj. Gen. Nestor Añonuevo, who has been named chief of the Army’s 4th division.  

Prior to his appointment as the military’s operations chief, Baladad served as deputy commander of the 9th Infantry Division based in Camarines Sur.  

He was among the military officers who were charged with torture and robbery by the so-called Morong 43, a group of suspected communist rebels who claimed to be rural health workers.  

He declined to comment on how he treats his appointment in relation to the torture charges against him.  

“That (appointment) is a decision of the higher headquarters so I cannot already talk about it,” Baladad said.  

The Morong 43 members were arrested on Feb. 6, 2010 in Morong, Rizal for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Baladad was commander of the Army’s 202nd Brigade when the arrest took place.   Five of the Morong 43 have admitted that they were rebels and have availed of the government’s amnesty program.

They denied that they were tortured and even accused their former comrades of supporting the communist insurgency.  

In December 2010, President Aquino ordered the dropping of charges against the suspects after the Justice department declared that the procedures conducted by the military in their arrest were questionable.