BY RUBY SILUBRICO and FELIPE CELINO
ROXAS City — Military and police officers in Western Visayas are stepping up strategies to achieve peace.
Encouraged by the breakthrough in negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the military aims to transform its men into soldiers of peace and make them reach out to communist rebels.
Thirty public information officers and noncommissioned officers from major units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the region and Negros Oriental gathered for a two-day seminar-workshop at the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) in Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.
The seminar, which ended yesterday, is aimed at continuing the Army’s bid to further strengthen its resolve in transparency, accountability and peace, said Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto, 3ID spokesperson.
On the other hand, the Philippine National Police deployed members of its Special Action Force (SAF) to bolster the region-wide campaign against insurgency and criminalities.
The SAF personnel arrived in Capiz from General Santos City on Tuesday. Leading them is their commanding officer, Senior Insp. Victor Sobrepeña.
Sobrepeña said they will be deployed in several areas in Capiz for counterterrorism, and will train the local police on special operations.
The seminar-workshop in Camp Peralta also aims to further support the Army Transformation Roadmap, military officials said.
“With the breakthrough in peace negotiations with MILF, we hope to further equip these soldiers in sending out the message of the government’s sincerity to peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front,” said Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., 3ID commander.
Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), clarified that the SAF personnel deployed to the region will not secure the 2013 mid-term elections.
“Ang SAF ay hindi para sa election kung ’di para sa mga provinces na insurgent-infested,” Cruz said. Its purpose is “purely for ISO (Internal Security Operations).”
Sent from Mindanao by the Office of SAF under Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., Cruz’s predecessor, the group will be based in Brgy. Manhoy, Dao, Capiz.
Cruz said the SAF will also watch over atrocities of rebels — particularly their collection of revolutionary tax — in Antique, Aklan, Iloilo and Capiz, in coordination with the AFP.
“These are the four provinces that need augmentation force to address insurgency problems,” he said.
In a welcome ceremony in Dao Thursday, Supt. Mario Baquiran Jr., battalion commander of the 6th SAF, said they will “win the hearts and minds of the people” in the region.
He said the duration of their stay will depend on the assessment of the higher command.
There are about 300 rebels remaining in Panay, PRO-6 records showed.
More troops from the 3ID were sent to the field for offensive operations and to secure vital installations.
