New Nolcom chief to fight NPA ‘remnants’ thru dev’t tack

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The newly installed head of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) vowed that the military would be involved in development projects in far-flung communities to earn the trust of rural folk and thus deprive “remnants” of the New People’s Army (NPA) “any issue to exploit on.”

During the turnover rites at Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Monday, Maj. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr. also called on “various stakeholders” in the private sector to support military efforts “in pursuit of a just and lasting peace” in Regions 1, 2, 3 and the Cordilleras.

Trinidad was the overall ground commander during the 2013 defense of Zamboanga City against extremists from the Moro National Liberation Front. He replaced Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. who was promoted as Armed Forces vice chief of staff.

Trinidad said, “Through our partners, we will collectively build social pressure on what remains of the NPA in this area and the other armed groups for them to shun the culture of arms and violence and to instead embrace a culture of peace and development.”

Last January, the Armed Forces declared the entire northern Luzon insurgency-free, with Pampanga becoming the 22nd and final province where the military has turned over insurgency operations to the police.

Nolcom said it has declared insurgency-free many provinces under its jurisdiction since 2009: La Union and Nueva Vizcaya in 2009; Apayao, Aurora, Quirino, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Kalinga in 2010; Ilocos Norte and Benguet in 2011; Zambales, Abra and Bataan in 2012; and Batanes, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Cagayan, Ifugao, Bulacan and Mt. Province in 2013.