THE Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) is set to wage a so-called “white area” operation having substantially defeated the major guerilla fronts of the communist terrorist group (CTG) operating within the area of responsibility (AOR).
Eastmincom commander Lt. General Greg Almerol admitted it as a “big challenge” to sustain the insurgency-free status of areas recovered from the influence of the CTG, and he saw it as a “real threat” if the "white area" committees of the CTG are still operating.
“Pag nag relax tayo (If we relax), they could easily recover the areas, that’s why we endeavor on white areas,” he said, revealing that “white area committees” of the CTG still operate in Davao City urban areas.
He explained that the white area committees are composed of “practically political officers, the ‘politburo’ side of the CPP-NPA [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army].”
By general definition, politburo refers to “the principal policymaking committee of a communist party.”
Almerol revealed that the “white areas are supporting the red areas in terms of monetary support, in terms of manpower, in terms of other power factors of the CPP-NPA.”
“Sila yong nagpo-provide; sila ‘yong nagbibigay ng umbilical cord ng red areas (They are the ones providing; they are the ones giving the umbilical cord to the red areas). ‘Pag hindi natin na dismantle ito (If we would not dismantle them), the threat is still real,” he said in the same media interview.
On top of ending the white area committee operations of the CPP-NPA, Almerol has prepositioned troops to totally dismantle this year, the four remaining weakened guerilla fronts in Eastmincom AOR: three in Caraga Region, and one operating at the boundary of Bukidnon and North Cotabato.
“We have a directive from higher headquarters to dismantle these once and for all, and I also have directed the joint task forces commanders, Agila and Diamond, to up-the-job of dismantling these within the year,” he said.
From 26 guerilla fronts at the beginning of his stint as the Eastmincom commander, Almerol now has only three weakened guerilla fronts to confront and end. PIA DAVAO