Bacarro was given a campaign update briefing on the command’s accomplishment from the 1st Quarter to the 4th Quarter of 2022 under the Campaign Plan "Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao” by EastMinCom chief Lieutenant General Greg Almerol.
During this period, EastMinCom's various military operations led to the neutralization of 706 Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members and supporters with 57 high-value individuals, as well as the recovery of 598 firearms and 116 anti-personnel mines.
EastMinCom also destroyed eight communist terrorist group (CTG) Guerilla Fronts and four Vertical Units.
56 barangays under EastMinCom’s area of responsibility had been cleared from CTG influence, which led to the declaration of the Davao Region as "insurgency-free" on October 12, 2022.
Almerol said the command is on the right track in their campaign progress.
“But even as we recognize this accomplishment, we know very well that we cannot rest on our laurels for the ultimate victory is yet to be achieved," Almerol said in a statement Saturday.
Almerol assured the AFP chief of staff that there will be no let up in defeating the remaining CTGs in order to maintain peace, progress, and stability in this part of the country.
Bacarro, meanwhile, during his traditional "Talk to the Troops," praised the immense individual and collective contributions of EastMinCom towards the attainment of AFP's mission.
"One thing is definite: that the Eastern Mindanao Command has contributed a lot in the attainment of the mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Hindi natin maitatanggi 'yan (We cannot deny that). This is manifested by the reduction of different power factors of the enemy," he said.
Bacarro said in the soonest possible time, the AFP will be able to declare strategic victory in some of the areas under EastMinCom.
Photo from EastMinCom