TANJAY CITY, Negros Oriental, April 30 (PIA) -- The newly-installed commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Negros Oriental vowed to sustain the brigade’s efforts in maintaining peace while ensuring its constituents enjoy a secured life in the province.

Colonel Joey Escanillas, the new commander of the 302nd IB, told members of the media in an interview after his installation that he aims to address the factors that cause insurgency as he takes over the helm of the brigade.

He added that he also wants to focus on helping address the issues of the labor sector, students, urban poor, and transport since these are the sectors of the society that could provide support Communist-Terrorist-Groups (CTGs) and their undertakings in the future.

Relative to this, Escanillas said they also plan to weaken the CTGs support system through relentless operations.

“They exist because of the support system nila. Hindi lamang sa Negros Oriental kundi pati sa Cebu and Bohol provinces. Kapag may support system pa although kahit ilang sila, kahit kaunti lang, kapag continuous ang support they will continue to exist and continue to create terroristic activities (They exist because they have their support system. It’s not only present in Negros Oriental but also in Cebu and Bohol provinces. Even though they are small in number they can still continue to exist and continue to create terroristic activities because they have their own support system),” Escanillas said.

“We have to cut the support system hand-in-hand with our relentless operations sa ating kanayunan and of course engage sa mga different people’s organization and other government agencies too (We have to cut the support syste hand-in-hand with our relentless operations in the hinterlands and of course by engaging with different people’s organizations and other government agencies too),” he added.

In relation to this, he also underscored that the localization of the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict must be strengthened so that people or the communities targeted by the CTGs will be able to feel the presence of government in their area and access essential services so that they won’t have a reason to turn back against the government and support the CTGs.

Escanillas said these undertakings are geared towards ensuring the residents of the province live a in a peaceful community.

“Our desire is for our citizens to have a secured life. They will be able to sleep at night without the fear of being intimidated or any threat. They can go anywhere without any threat and of course ang progress ng isang lugar which is an evidence na kapag peaceful na siya ibig sabihin well-developed siya (Of course we want to ensure progress in the area. When a place is peaceful it is also well-developed),” he added.

Escanillas had formally assumed leadership of the 302nd IB on April 27.

Prior to his appointment as brigade commander, he was the head of the Armed Forces fo the Philippines (AFP)’s Task Force Cebu.

He replaced BGen. Leonardo Peña who was promoted as the assistant division commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division in Capiz.

Peña served as the commander of the 302nd IB for two years. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)