Marcos hopes Caraga region conflict-free by yearend 

Published February 16, 2024 05:48 PM By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA Integrated News

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed hope that Caraga region would be cleared from communist groups by the end of the year. 

In his talk to the troops from the Philippine Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade, Marcos said he has received good updates regarding the region’s security situation following a briefing with Joint Task Force Diamond and ground troops.

The JTF Diamond is composed of the Army’s 401st, 402nd, 403rd, and 901st Infantry Brigades, covering most parts of Caraga and Northern Mindanao.

“Mukha naman maganda ang progress dito (It seems the progress here is good). In fact, there is a projection by the planning that siguro by the end of the year, hopefully the target is by the end of the year, masasabi natin na (we can say that) cleared na talaga ang inyong area. That is a good progress,” Marcos said. 

“And I have to congratulate everybody at alam ko naman ang buhay ng sundalo kung papaano (I know the life of a soldier). Kaya’t lalo na dito, yung terrain dito. The only way to do what you are doing is to kailangan talagang hahabulin ninyo ‘yung kalaban (you need to really run after the enemies),” he said.

The Presidential Communications Office said that there is a reported downtrend in the presence of insurgents in the JTF Diamond’s area of operation, from 437 rebels in the first quarter of 2023 to 312 as of February 15, 2024

This was a decrease of 28.6%, according to the PCO. 

Meanwhile, Marcos said the military should assume the role of peacemakers while fighting to attain peace.

He stressed that his government has adopted a new approach in tackling internal conflicts, which is by encouraging soldiers to become peacemakers while combating groups threatening peace and democracy.

“Iba ang ating approach sa ating internal conflicts that we have within the Philippines at hinihingi natin sa ating mga sundalo ay kailangan maging war fighter and we still need war fighters and we still need the courage and the bravery and the sacrifice that you have shown,” the President said.

“But now there is an additional dimension to the job that you have. Yung mission ninyo ay hindi lang 'yung giyera kung hindi you have to be also peacemakers at they must remember that kahit papaano, ang kaharap natin, Pilipino din 'yan,” he added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News

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