AFP vows sustained momentum vs extremist violence

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday vowed to sustain the momentum in the campaign against extremism involving various terrorist groups.

During the Laging Handa briefing, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said they are preparing the counterterror plan for the coming months.

“We have to sustain the momentum of our campaign against violent extremism which involve the communist terrorist groups and the local terrorist groups,” Aguilar said, adding that they are about to establish a Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Center.

The AFP will also continue to implement their enhanced comprehensive local integration program, to encourage more members of supposed terrorist groups to go back to the fold of law and avoid more conflicts.

The military, Aguilar said, will also “fully support” the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, saying it is a “very important” institution.

“(It) is very important (in) making sure that we are not just defeating the armed group but we are also addressing the root causes of the conflict,” the spokesperson insisted.

He added that the AFP would continue to strengthen the reserve force development, so that they will be “ready for all eventualities including humanitarian disaster response operation.”

AFP modernization

Aguilar also confirmed that the modernization program of the AFP would carry on under the administration of President Marcos.

Aguilar said Marcos “made sure that the AFP modernization program will continue” and that some procurement has already been processed.

This, he said, will equip the AFP better and make them more capable in performing their missions.

Aguilar also thanked Marcos for his earlier statement pushing for the building of hospitals for military veterans in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The spokesman added that the AFP would be ready to provide support for the construction.

“We are ready to give help in providing technical support, and if necessary, we will even deploy our engineering construction battalion of our brigade so that we can fast-track the construction of these hospitals,” he said.

Aside from these, the AFP is also looking to prioritize the health care system of military personnel, under AFP chief Lt. Gen. Vicente Bacarro.

“We will have an intervention on the mental health system, because… the stress of performing our job, especially in combat areas and at the same time, we will also sustain the comprehensive social benefit program for the family of soldiers,” he said.