AFP Centcom is Winning the War VS. Insurgents’ – Inserto

By Boy Ryan Zabal

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command Lieutenant-General Pedro Ike Inserto asserted winning the war against insurgents could be attained through relentless civil military operations.”

A Medical Dental Civic Action Program (Medcap) on June 7 was held last week in Malinao, hometown of Inserto. He is the first Philippine Air Force general to head the AFP Central Command based in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City.

Twenty-five doctors offered free medical services to 2,431 residents (dental, 232; circumcision, 99; haircut, 58; shiatsu, 30; medical, 1,380 and pedia, 632) in a whole-day medical mission at Malinao Elementary School.

“We achieved convergence because there is no way for us to win this war if we don’t put a stake into it. We are trying to dismantle the insurgent political structures in the Visayas through heightened internal security combined with civil military operations,” Inserto told the Aklan Police and Defense Press Corps (APDPC) in a press conference.

The medical mission is in coordination with local government officials and other stakeholders in the area led by Malinao mayor Dominador Ilio, Jr. and acting vice mayor Wilbert Ariel Igoy, all close relatives of Inserto.

“We realized that no amount of relentless military operations could win the hearts of the people and make them happy. This is the truth in shaping the mindset of the people through civil military operations in action,” he added.

To win the hearts of Malinaonons, Inserto donated one computer set to the Malinao Elementary School headed by District Supervisor Roselyn Dugcal and principal Rosie Reyes.

Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force personnel also performed skydiving exhibitions at the school grounds during the medical mission and the nightly sayawan of “I” and “Spearhead” combos at the Malinao town plaza from June 6 to 7.

Ilio, for his part, thanked the AFP Centcom for bringing the biggest medical mission to the hometown of Katipuneros Candido Iban and Gabino Yonsal.

Inserto said, “his hometown and the whole province of Aklan are relatively peaceful.” But he stressed, “Panay Island, particularly near the boundaries of Iloilo and Antique provinces and the northern towns of Iloilo are experiencing insurgency-related problems.”

“The local Philippine National Police in Malinao could handle the peace and order in Malinao with the support of the community,” he said.

“He has marching orders from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she visited Bohol Island last month to dismantle armed groups and political structures in Negros and Samar this year,” added Inserto.

AFP Centcom has identified Catarman, Samar as the next Medcap venue to bring the people closer to what the government is doing, Inserto pointed out. /MP