NegOr army’s tall order: Stamp rebels in 3 years

by | Jul 27, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita

STAMP insurgents and get Negros Oriental declared insurgency free in three years.

This was the tall order issued by the Regional Peace and Order Council in Central Visayas (RPOC-7) through its chairman, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to the army commander assigned for internal security operation in eastern Negros.

At the RPOC7 full council meeting held at the Bohol Tropics Resort in the tourism city of Tagbilaran, July 27, the tall order coming from the petite and yet fearless Cebu governor resounded as a crisp challenge for the army units assigned in Negros Oriental.

Negros Oriental, one of the provinces that hosted the fleeing insurgents from Bohol and Cebu has battled with the uncomfortable tag of being the remaining province in the region that is saddled with the peace and order problem.

And taking tall order is 302nd Brigade’s Colonel Manuel Garchitorena, commanding officer of the military units now tasked to reduce insurgency in the province to insignificance.

At his disposal for the tough mission are his battalion based in barangay McKinley, Guihulngan Neg. Oriental and the 79th Infantry Battalion based in Siaton.

Dipped into the highly impenetrable terrains of Negros Oriental and the easy and porous boundary to Negros Occidental, the army’s operations have been fairly successful since rebels who cross the border to Negros Occidental can hardly be pursued.

Compounded by the problem of porous boundaries in the regions, PCSupt Lane O Nerez added that the insurgency problem in Negros island can not be seen as a problem of Oriental but of the Occidental side of the island as well.

Officially getting the mandate to end insurgency there since July 1, 2010, Col Garchitorena revealed that his unit has been realigned from a bigger area of responsibility to focus his efforts in eastern Negros.

However, with the success stories from Bohol and Cebu as templates and with the guidance of the 802nd Brigade under Col. Aland Luga, seemingly, Col. Garchitorena’s 3 year deadline to put an end to insurgency is not that impossible after all. (rac/PIABohol)

PGMA stresses need to crush insurgency by 2010 to attain first world status

by | May 27, 2008 | National News

PGMA STRESSES NEED TO CRUSH INSURGENCY BY 2010 TO ATTAIN FIRST WORLD STATUS
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the insurgency must be crushed by 2010 if the Philippines is to realize its goal of attaining First World status in 20 years.

In her address before the Western Visayas Local Peace and Security Assembly in Bacolod City, the President said the country must no longer be hobbled by insurgency to enable it to join the elite circle of First World economies.

Peace and security, she pointed out, are part and parcel of the strong foundation of a country’s development and economic growth.

For too long, she said, the insurgency has been a drag on economic growth, especially in the countryside, and it’s time that the disruption caused by ideological upheaval is finally ended.

The President expressed optimism that by 2010, the country would be well on the way to achieving its vision of First World status.

She said she is banking on the local government units (LGUs) to lead the way in ending the insurgency in their respective jurisdictions as they understand the local conditions better than others. (PIA/Bohol)