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Thursday, August 30, 2007
Arroyo releases combat pay for troops
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is releasing the additional combat pay "for soldiers involved in operations against the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, lawless elements, and New People's Army (NPA)" in Mindanao.
At the same time, Arroyo released the initial funding requirements for the completion of the Basilan circumferential road and the deployment of military engineering battalions to undertake the implementation of developmental projects in the province.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. made the announcement in Zamboanga City Wednesday during the turnover ceremonies of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) at Camp Don Basilio Navarro.
Esperon said each of the soldiers involved in combat operations will receive an additional combat pay of P150 daily. It is on top of the P240 combat pay monthly they are already receiving.
"I have brought with me the additional combat pay for July and August for all our troops in Mindanao -- for all those who engage and encounter the enemy," Esperon announced during the turnover of command ceremony.
He said that more than P.6 million would be released to the troops who are fighting Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan and Sulu alone.
The additional payment of combat pay is in line with President Arroyo's directive when she presided in last Thursday's command conference in this city.
Esperon said of the two engineering battalions that will be deployed to Basilan, one would come from the Philippine Army and the other from the Philippine Air Force.
"It is a holistic approach to the problem here in Mindanao, meaning it will not only be combat operations but there will be developmental efforts that we now term as humanitarian invasion," he said.
However, he emphasized that the combat operations will continue without let-up "to keep them (Abu Sayyaf) on the run so that they cannot disturb the developmental works."
Task Force Thunder Chief Juancho Sabban disclosed that more than 80 kilometers of the over 200-kilometer stretch of Basilan circumferential road is still unfinished.
Basilan Vice Governor Al-Rasheed Sakalahul said some portions of the circumferential road, especially from Isabela City to Lamitan City and Isabela City towards Maluso town, has already been concreted.
Esperon was here Wednesday to install Marine Major General Nelson Allaga as the second Wesmincom chief vice Army Lieutenant General Eugenio Cedo.
Allaga enjoined all the Wesmincom personnel to continue doing their respective tasks, as he vowed to strive to "provide you a good leadership."
Cedo thanked all the personnel, local government officials, and other sectors within his area of responsibility for their support during his stint as Wesmincom chief.
Wesmincom was activated, along with the military's Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) based in Davao City, on August 27, 2006 when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deactivated the Southern Command. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (August 30, 2007 issue)
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