WITH the year-long extension of martial law in Mindanao, the Armed Forces would be intensifying operations against the New People’s Army and terrorist groups operating in the country’s second largest island.
The announcement was made by Armed Force chief-of-staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, saying residents should expect military operations intensified in scope and coverage.
“When I mentioned ‘focused’, I meant that the focus of the operation is on the entire Mindanao and the priority will be on eastern Mindanao for anti-NPA operations while on western Mindanao, the concentration will be on remnants of the Isis threat,” said Guerrero.
Guerrero said more patrols and checkpoints would be conducted in areas known to be “infested” with communist rebels to deter “terrorist actions.”
He said the country’s ongoing unilateral, bilateral, and trilateral arrangements with neighboring countries would enhance troops’ maritime awareness especially in the country’s southern borders.
Guerrero was referring to the recently signed trilateral cooperative agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia in the Sulu Sea and the bilateral agreement with Indonesia in the Celebes Sea.
The agreements have greatly reduced kidnapping incidents as only 11 have been recorded this year compared to the 36 or 37 posted in 2016. (pna)
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