Davao City – Newly installed commander of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division, Major General Ernesto C. Torres Jr. is expected to end local communist armed conflict in his area of operation.
Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA), Lt General Jose Faustino Jr spelled such task as his number one standing order for Torres who recently replaced Major General Rueben Basiao who had retired from service of the Philippine Army at the time he relinquished his post for Torres.
Faustino grounded his faith on Torres who had previous stints in Davao Region as the former commander of 1003rd Inf “Raptor” Brigade covering the municipality of Talaingod of Davao del Norte and Paquibato of Davao City which used to be highly influenced by the New People’s Army (NPA) armed rebels.
“I have faith and confidence in the ability of General Torres, a very good officer. He knows the in’s and out of insurgency here in this area,” he was referring to areas in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
“He will continue the, actually he was part; he started some of the programs here when he was the brigade commander, and that’s why he is coming back because my order really is to finish,” he told the media in an interview when he led the ground-breaking ceremony of the new command post of 56th Infantry Battalion.
He made a special pitch of this order for the Municipality of Talaingod, he referred as among the areas used to be “most disturbed ” by insurgency.
“That’s my number one order for him: Maintain the momentum and finish the fight, especially here in Davao del Norte where we have the upper hand and, hindi na makabalik yong kalaban dito (The enemy can no longer come back here),” he said.
Meanwhile, Faustino was optimistic that newly retired Major General Basiao would still be visible in serving the government having established a trail of good performance.
“General Basiao is very good at counter organizing, at people’s organization; and of course, ang kanyang CSP. He is one of the proponents of CSP (community support program),” Faustino said.
I wish General Basiao the best for his retirement. Sayang yong talent n’ya. I’m sure marami pang maghahabol sa kanya because of his talent (a number will go for him because of his talent),” Faustino added. (Jeanevive Duron Abangan, PIA XI | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)