Mabanta, new 3rd ID chief, vows to slash NPA strength by 50 percent

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines  — Major Gen. Jose Mabanta, Jr. has assumed the post of commanding officer of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Camp Peralta of Jamindan, Capiz, during turnover of commands last February 6.

Mabanta, former spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), officially replaced Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Baustista who became commanding general of the Philippine Army last November 9.

Captain Reylan Java, 3rd ID spokesman, said the people of Panay and Negros are now assured that Mabanta will continue the peace efforts of Bautista and to pursue further the promotion of peace to preserve the gains achieved for the past year.

Mabanta said he would not change any strategies, policies, and game plans that have been proven to work well in the past and had been tried and tested for years. He said the command will adopt the mantra: “It is not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It is the will to prepare to win that matters.”

He added the 3rd ID game plan would be based on focused execution, reducing the adversaries’ strength by 50 percent by the end of year 2013 through “Bayanihan sa Panay at Negros.”

In his speech, Mabanta laid down the 3rd ID strategy map, consisting of the 4-Point Strategy. “As time is against us, we have no room for trial-and-error. We need a solid strategy. We will win the peace through the 4P strategy,” he said.

The first point represents the people, he said explaining that the people “is our most valued asset. We will make sure that we have the right talents for the right job … that these talents are satisfied, full engaged and motivated to finish the mission.”

The second point stands for process and systems. He explained that it is the aspect where the military has been successful. “There were no shortcuts in winning the peace.”

The third point speaks about partnership. “As what Bayanihan espoused, we need to work with all the stakeholders and win the civil society’s support not just through the media but the down-the-line,” he said, explaining about community projects and involvement in activities that will make the military closer to the public it serves.

The fourth point stands for policies, as embodied in the Bayanihan, Mabanta said. “It will be my guide in coming up with a holistic and solid strategy in winning the peace here in Western Visayas.”

Mabanta, member of the PMA Class of 1981, was the 7th ID commander prior to his 3ID stint. He mostly saw action in the Mindanao area and the NCR. It was only during the early years of his career that he was assigned in the Visayas, as platoon leader at the 43rd Infantry Battalion of the 5th ID in 1982 and later on as company commander of the same unit in 1984.

Before his PMA year, Mabanta took a year of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the UP-Diliman; he also earned his Master of Management Studies at the University of New South Whales in Australia, and had been recipients of numerous awards like the Gold Cross Medal and the Distinguished Service Star.