ANOTHER anti-insurgency drive in Negros was created for the rapid resolution of insurgency problem in the island.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) Negros was launched in compliance to the order of President Rodrigo Duterte after expressing indignation over the brutal killings of policemen in Negros Oriental during the 40th Cabinet Meeting on August 05, 2019.
Brigadier General Eric C Vinoya, the assistant division commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID), was designated as the commander of JTF Negros.
With this, the JTF Negros will be under the administrative control of 3ID and operational control of AFP’s Central Command (Centcom). It will undertake operational control over all AFP Units in Negros Island and conduct internal security operations which took effect last September 01.
According to Vinoya, the JTF Negros intends to address insurgency situation in the island, reduce and cease local, national and foreign terrorists groups and ultimately dismantle priority guerilla fronts in order to defeat communist terrorist groups.
The joint task force was not only created to address roots of insurgency and fight government enemies but to develop good working relationships among its members and other stakeholders by adopting the whole-of-nation approach, Vinoya said.
“Ending insurgency to attain the desired sustainable peace and development does not only depend on the hands of the law enforcement agencies, military and police but also through the cooperation of all local government units and national government agencies; hence, we are adopting the said national peace framework,”Vinoya added.
Early this year, the provinces of Negros Oriental and Occidental launched the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) which aims to end insurgency and sustain peace and order efforts in NPA affected communities through the delivery of government services and socio-economic programs closer to the people. (TDE)