COTABATO CITY — The Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) and local government units had jointly secured the surrender of 3,044 New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas since 2016, a feat highlighted in last week’s commemoration of the unit’s 18th founding anniversary.
Radio reports here on Sunday quoted 10th ID’s commander, Major Gen. Allan D. Hambala, as saying that credit for the feat should partly go to different peace advocacy blocs, the municipal, provincial and city officials in areas covered by units of the division.
The 10th ID covers provinces and cities in Region 11 and the municipalities of San Fernando, Cadingilan, and Damulog in Bukidnon province in Region 10.
Sunday’s radio reports here also stated that units of the 10th ID had, with the support of the Philippine National Police and local executives, dismantled all armed groups under the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) through combined tactical and diplomatic maneuvers in the past eight years.
The SMRC originally had five sub-regional committees, 16 guerilla fronts and nine other sub-groups, all feared for brutality on hapless villagers who had refused to provide members with money and food. — John Felix M. Unson
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