New AFP chief Santos assumes post, vows pro-action vs. local terrorists, drug problem

New Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos on Saturday vowed to be pro-active against local terrorist groups and promised to support the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

During a Change of Command ceremony at Camp Aguindalo, Santos, who replaced General Noel Clement, said the government has attained significant gains in ending five decades of insurgency in the country, particularly with the signing of the Executive Order 70.

EO 70 aims to institutionalize a whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, while creating a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, and directing the adoption of a national peace framework.

Because of the EO, all government agencies from the national, regional, provincial, municipal and barangay levels are now involved in helping put an end to local insurgency, Santos said.

"The AFP can now focus its resources, manpower, and firepower on the remaining communist-terrorist armed groups who insist on not giving up the armed struggle, in spite of the goodwill shown to them by the administration- in cash, livelihood training, and even housing. We will immediately neutralize those who insist on taking political power through armed struggle," he said during the event attended by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Also in attendance were former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Special Economic Envoy on Islamic Affairs to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Nur Misuari, who founded the Moro National Liberation Front.

Santos also emphasized that the AFP will continue to be proactive against local terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf and groups who pledge allegiance to ISIS.

"We are conifdent that we will end insurgency before the end of the President's term," he said in an ambush interview after the ceremony.

He also said the AFP will continue to push for localized peace talks with communist insurgents. "Kanya-kanyang probinsya through local chief executives, AFP PNP, [in] which we are gaining ground," he said.

Furthermore, the former Eastern Mindanao Command chief said that the AFP, under his command, will support the administration's war on drugs.

"With regards to the war on drugs front of our administration, the AFP shall continue to support, assist and cooperate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Philippine National Police, other law enforcement agencies and other concerned government agencies," he said. — MDM, GMA News