GAMU, Isabela - - The new acting commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, has reiterated that the region’s security is the concern of everybody.

Shortly after the change of command yesterday, acting commander BGen Audrey Pasia, in a media interview, said the battle of insurgency is not the battle of military alone, hence, there is a need to sustain the government’s Whole-Of-Nation Approach.

“Kailangan ng tulong ng lahat, ng civilian sector, ng LGUs, ng NGAS, ng military. We should be working together under the Whole-Of-Nation Approach. Kasama na ang media,” he said.

(We need the help of everyone, the civilian sector, LGUs, NGAs, military. We should be working together under the Whole-Of-Nation Approach and that includes the media.)

The acting commander recognizes that the role of the media is also important in ending local armed communist conflict.

“To me you are the mirror of the society. You must be responsible and you should reflect what truly is existing as far as you are the mirror of the society,” Bgen Pasia said.

“Be fair, that’s our request. We will show you what we are doing, we will tell it to you. Please use your role to help up reach the remaining members of the CTGs to surrender and avail the benefits,” he added.

BGen Pasia said the 5ID is ready to welcome the remaining members of the CTGs with open arms and assured them that they will be taken care of.

‘Go Against the Armed Groups’

“We must finish the insurgency especially the armed group. Yun ang trabaho namin eh. The military’s role is to go against their armed group. Nandiyan naman ang ating ELCAC, ang ating Whole-of-Nation,” he said.

(We must finish the insurgency especially the armed group. That's our job. The military's role is to go against their armed group. There is our ELCAC, our Whole-of-Nation.)

Under the Whole-Of-Nation Approach, RTF-ELCAC member agencies to include the Philippine Army, have been implementing infrastructure projects in insurgency-affected and hard-to-reach areas, conducting various community outreach programs, among others.

The acting commander said the pressure this time is to go against the armed groups.

“Please, i-consider niyo ang buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino. Yung pinaglalaban niyo pakireview. Pakitingnan niyo kung asan kayo baka mali naman na pakikibaka yan. More than 50 years is long enough. Mas kailangan na natin na magsama-sama together, para naman mabigyan ng focus ang ating external problems,” he further said.

(Please, consider the lives of our fellow Filipinos. Please review what you are fighting for. Please look where you are now. More than 50 years is long enough. We need to come together more, so that we can focus on our external problems.)

“Sa inyong lahat [referring to remaining CTG members] , we welcome you with open arms. You decide, you fight the government, surely may mangyayari. Kung umabot man kayo sa Pasko [kung hindi kayo makikicooperate], maybe this is your last Merry Christmas , I assure you,” he added.

(To all of you [referring to remaining CTG members], we welcome you with open arms. You decide, you fight the government, surely something will happen. If you make it to Christmas [if you don't cooperate], maybe this is your last Merry Christmas, I assure you.)

On the other hand, BGen Pasia has urged the public to support the current administration’s thrusts especially in ending insurgency.

“Suportahan natin ang Pangulo natin. Suportahan natin ang gobyerno natin. Mahalin natin ang kapwa natin. Huwag tayong mag-away away. Wala tayong mararating kung mag-away away tayo. More than 50 years na ito [existence ng CPP-NPA-NDF], tama na po sana ito,” he stressed.

(Let's support our President. Let's support our government. Let's love our fellow Filipinos. Let's not fight. We will get nowhere if we fight. It's been more than 50 years [existence of the CPP-NPA-NDF], this has to stop now.) (MDCT/PIA-2)