President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed the need to ensure that the insurgent groups will no longer have the platform to finance their operations in the country.
In a situation briefing with officers in Camp General Macario Peralta Jr. in Capiz on Friday, Marcos said communist insurgency in Western Visayas is achievable due to the diminishing strength of communist terrorist groups since 2019.
“I would (like to) congratulate you for the good progress that you’re making. Keep the pressure going…I know that the other units are also doing it in terms of financing. But perhaps, you could put more emphasis on that,” the President said.
“We must keep on going and we’ll wait for your invitation to come back when you declare this area insurgent-free… I think it’s achievable,” he added.
Major General Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, claims that the rebels are taking advantage of minorities, particularly indigenous peoples.
He claimed that the rebels are requesting funding from international organizations while acting as representatives of humanitarian organizations. However, they won’t fully transfer the funds they would receive from the approved project ideas they submit abroad to the projects of their intended minority groups.
Along with the 301st Infantry Brigade, 302nd Infantry Brigade, 303rd Infantry Brigade, and Joint Task Group Cebu, the 3rd Infantry Division is a member of Joint Task Force Spear, which has operational areas in Western Visayas and Central Visayas.
Five guerilla fronts comprise the remaining communist organizations being pursued by the JTF Spear in their region.