EDITORIAL - A major problem

While the Philippines has been busy building up its military presence in the Spratlys to bolster its territorial claim, a serious problem lies at home over the government's campaign against insurgency. And this problem has something to do with scarcity of equipment and personnel.

Last Thursday, the Central Command admitted that the lack of equipment poses a major problem in its operations in Central Visayas. CentCom, whose area of responsibility encompasses the whole Visayas area, said it also lacks personnel to augment its troops in the Negros provinces and Bohol.

Despite experiencing scarcity of personnel, CentCom still sent troops to Mindanao months ago. But CentCom public information officer Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Tampus explained that the three battalions deployed in the south will be back soon.

In terms of logistical needs, Tampus said CentCom needs at least 12 additional helicopters to be used in anti-insurgency operations across the Visayas. The good news, however, is that Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin assured that the DND is now assessing these concerns.

If not addressed soon, these problems could certainly pose a serious threat to the drive against insurgency in Central Visayas, where the communist movement is still alive and kicking.

The military is still fighting the New People's Army rebels in Panay Island, Negros provinces and the Eastern Visayas composing Samar and Leyte. Good thing is that Cebu has been reported to be insurgency-free, leaving the military to concentrate on other provinces.

However, with the scarcity of equipment and personnel, it remains to be seen whether the Armed Forces can defeat the communist movement in the Visayas under the present administration, whose goal is to stamp out insurgency across the country in six years.

But if the Aquino government really wanted to end the insurgency movement under its term, first on its agenda should be to intensify the campaign against the rebels. This means pouring more resources into the military's logistical and manpower capabilities.