46 NPA Guerilla Fronts, vertical units destroyed in 5 year campaign plan 'Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao

EastMinCom's significant accomplishments were among the highlights of the command’s 16th Founding Anniversary celebration on August 26.

Almerol said that out of 56 GFs and vertical units destroyed, 18 were dismantled during his incumbency or 50% of the total Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) units dissolved in Eastern Mindanao for the past six years.

Almerol vows to dismantle the remaining CTG units before the end of 2022.

"I am very optimistic that before the end of the year, EastMinCom with its Joint Task Forces will dismantle the few remaining Guerilla Fronts and NPA Vertical Units," he said.

Through Focused Military Operations (FMO), intensified stakeholder engagements, and support from former rebels, EastMinCom neutralized a total of 4,797 CTG members in the same period, with 3,579 surrendered, 524 were captured, and 403 were killed.

The command also neutralized a total of 101 top-ranking leaders, including national-level personalities such as Jorge "Oris" Madlos, Menandro "Bok" Villanueva, and Loida "Gwen" Magpatoc.

EastMinCom troops also captured 1,388 Anti-Personnel Mines (APM) and 4,607 assorted firearms composed of 2,732 high-powered and 1,875 low-powered during combat operations and the surrender of CTG members.

Apart from these accomplishments, EastMinCom also helped the Local Government Units uplift the lives of people in former CTG-influenced areas by facilitating the completion of 251 Barangay Development Projects (BDP) under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

These accomplishments were deemed significant in quelling the decades-old communist insurgency as it led to the declaration of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao City, all in Davao Region as "insurgency-free,” according to Almerol.

"Being true to our commitment to the Command's Campaign Plan 'Kalinaw Sidlakang Mindanao,' we gained significant headway championing the foundation of conflict-resilient communities and promoting inclusive growth," Almerol said.

Almerol also underscored the command’s efforts to assist the areas affected by the onslaught of Typhoon "Odette" in 2021 by deploying the Joint Task Force Sambisig to ensure effective and efficient humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Almerol in his message thanked all personnel, including the ground commanders, and the support of the stakeholders for their relentless efforts in attaining the desire in the pursuit of peace and sustained growth in Eastern Mindanao.

“Given our numerous meaningful achievements, we triumphantly achieved significant milestones through the collective efforts of the men and women of EastMinCom. The gains we have achieved would not be made possible without the sterling leadership of our Commanders on the ground, along with the constant support and cooperation of our stakeholders," he said.

The celebration also highlighted a series of activities such as Sports Fest, Medical and Dental Civic Action Program, and ceremonial awarding to outstanding Officers, enlisted personnel, civilian human resource, and significant stakeholders.

The Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr., representing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the guest of honor and speaker during the activity last Friday.