• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
JAMINDAN, Capiz – The newly installed commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, on Wednesday, July 15 vowed to sustain the division’s gains against communist insurgents while strengthening collaboration with local government units (LGUs) and government agencies.
Escanillas said Panay and Negros have already been cleared of significant New People’s Army influence, but stressed that the military will continue revisiting previously cleared communities through its Community Support Program to ensure insurgents do not regain a foothold.
“If we observe that they are recovering or regaining influence in those areas, we have to address that immediately,” he said. “We need to deploy our teams to reassess the situation and determine what interventions may still be lacking. We cannot say what is lacking until we are on the ground.”
He noted that they have yet to see any significant recovery of territories previously lost by insurgents in Panay, but emphasized that continuous monitoring remains necessary.
Escanillas said the true measure of success in the military’s internal security operations is reflected in the area’s economic growth and stability.
“We measure success through the economy,” he said. “Panay continues to make strides in economic progress. Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Cebu are major tourist destinations, and we want to maintain the peace and stability that support development.”
He acknowledged lingering security concerns in parts of Negros Occidental, but assured the public that these would be addressed through close coordination with other security forces.
“Our objective is to further reduce the strength of the remaining armed groups in the Occidental side to a very inconsequential level,” Escanillas said, adding that he already has operational guidance prepared for field commanders.
He said the campaign would target not only armed insurgents but also those operating in urban areas, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to addressing the remaining threats.
Escanillas appealed to the remaining rebel members to return to the fold of the law, describing many of them as victims rather than hardened ideologues.
“If we study the spectrum of our adversaries, there are those near the center, near-left, mid-left, and the extreme left,” he said. “Those in the extreme left are the most dedicated and are more difficult to convince. But many of the remnants belong to the near-left or mid-left. We believe they can still be reached.”
He emphasized that addressing insurgency requires more than military action, saying many of the underlying issues are political and economic in nature.
“Not all issues are military issues,” he said. “Many concerns can be addressed by local government units and national government agencies. With stronger collaboration, we can help communities resolve these concerns.”
Escanillas said he would continue the initiatives of his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, while remaining focused on preserving peace and ensuring the safety of communities to support further development across the region.
“We will remain steadfast in our mission to preserve peace and protect our people,” he said.
As the new commander of the 3ID, Escanillas identified the pursuit of the remaining insurgent remnants in Panay and Negros as his immediate priority.
“We cannot fully achieve development and guarantee the safety of our communities while these remnants remain,” he said. “Little by little, once we accomplish this, we can transition toward territorial defense.”
He also reaffirmed the division’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster response, saying 3ID troops remain on standby for emergency operations in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and local disaster risk reduction and management offices.
Escanillas called for stronger partnerships among the military, LGUs, and national government agencies to proactively prevent insurgent atrocities and sustain the peace gains achieved in Negros Island Region, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas. | GPB
