Victory Through Unity: The Whole-of-Nation Approach Against Insurgency
The communist insurgency is one of the most persistent problems in the Philippines. For half a century, it has been a social cancer feeding on and into a much deeper and complex issue gripping our kababayans: the problem of poverty and inequality.
In cognizance of the above, the Duterte Administration prioritizes the eradication of communist terrorist groups through the Executive Order 70 series of 2018. Holistic efforts consisting of local government units, national government agencies, private sector, and civil society organizations sustain the gains of our armed forces in dismantling Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army units by building resilient communities. Undoubtedly, the war against communist armed conflict cannot be won with arms alone, but with the Whole-of-Nation Approach and strong community support.
I commend the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “MATAPAT” Battalion for documenting the successful implementation of EO 70 through this book, “TUG OF WAR: Victory in Time of Convergence | How the 53rd Infantry ‘MATAPAT’ Battalion and Stakeholders Ended the Local Communist Armed Conflict.” The effectiveness of the numerous strategies, programs, and projects in this publication empowered the province to become “insurgency-free” and “development-ready.” The gains of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict are a testament to the commitment and dedication of the whole Zamboanga del Sur in securing the prosperous future of its next generation.
May you continue to strengthen these convergence efforts to lead our families and communities to the path of inclusive and sustainable peace and development.
Mabuhay ang PTF-ELCAC Zamboanga del Sur! Mabuhay ang 53IB!
SEC ROLANDO JOSELITO BAUTISTA
Department of Social Welfare and Development
RTF-ELCAC IX CORDS
Whole-of-Nation in Action in Zamboanga del Sur: Sustaining Peace and Development Through Convergence
Greeetings!
I want to express my warmest commendation to the 53rd Infantry “MATAPAT” Battalion of the 1st Infantry “TABAK” Division, Philippine Army for publishing the book entitled “Tug of War: Victory in Time of Convergence”, which highlights the best practices of the battalion in the pursuit of peace and order and the sustenance of development in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur against the threat of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs)
After more than fifty (50) years, we are now experiencing significant gains in our fight against CTGs. This is brought by the implementation of Presidential Executive Order No. 70, series of 2018, in Zamboanga del Sur, institutionalizing a Whole-of-Nation Approach in dealing with this half-a-century old issue. This enabled us to streamline and harmonize the delivery of basic services and social development packages from Local Government Units (LGUs), National Government Agencies (NGAs), Private Sectors, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in CTG-infested and vulnerable areas.
Roughly three years in our implementation of this program, we have already accomplished feats such as the dismantling of guerilla fronts, the flock of CTGs returning to the folds of the law, and the overall improved quality of life in the hinterlands through the implementation of infrastructure programs connecting our constituents from Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) to urban areas.
These gains are all brought about by the synergized efforts of all concerned stakeholders. As such, I urge our Provincial Task Force – Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) heroes to further strive in order to sustain the gains we have already accomplished. In return, as chairman, I assure you of our continuous support of your programs and initiatives. After all, peace is an agenda of everyone. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Mabuhay Zamboanga del Sur Task Force ELCAC!
GOV VICTOR J YU
Chairman, PTF – ELCAC
Convergence and Commitment: Sustaining Gains in Western Mindanao
Sun Tzu in his “The Art of War” once said, “Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” This is clearly demonstrated in the recent results of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ campaigns against terrorism and insurgency specifically here in the Southern Philippines, where the enemy is slowly losing its will to fight. The area of operations of the Western Mindanao Command has a complex security landscape, “you name it. and we have it.” For so long, odds seem so strong but, recently, we have degraded the terrorists’ manpower and capability to carry out hostilities.
When I took over the helm of the Western Mindanao Command, I knew that my designation is coupled with tremendous responsibilities and challenges; however, with the support and commitment of my brilliant subordinate commanders, we were able to sustain the gains of our campaign. With success appreciation, I commend all of them for a job well done.
Being in the military for more than 33 years, I can say that the whole-of-nation approach is one of the most effective way to defeat terrorism and insurgency. Our convergence with various stakeholders is the ultimate key in defeating the terrorist groups All our recent successes justify this claim; hence we also attribute all our accomplishments to our partners and stakeholders.
I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the officers and personnel of the 53rd Infantry Battalion led by its Commanding Officer, LIEUTENANT COLONEL JO-AR A HERRERA INF (GSC) PA for coming up with this book entitled, TUG OF WAR | Victory in Time of Convergence: How the 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion and stakeholders ended the local communist armed conflict in Zamboanga del Sur. This book is a timely and lasting testament of how the “Matapat” troopers campaign plan, in collaboration with the local government machinery and with the support and participation of the civil society.
This book will not only be a reference for tactical and operational level security operations, but also will serve as a relevant historical and research material that could provide important insights in our effort to stabilize the security landscape in the country, especially here in Western Mindanao.
Thank you and more power.
LTGEN ALFREDO V ROSARIO JR AFP
Commandier
Western Mindanao Command
Winning the Peace Through Servant Leadership and Convergence
Winning the war against our nation’s adversaries is a tremendous and tedious task to triumph the local communist armed conflict. Espousing out-of-the-box thinking and implementing a strategy deeply built on trust, the 53rd Infantry “MATAPAT” Battalion (53IB) has indeed set forth an example on how to end the local communist armed conflict in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur. Let me commend the 53IB for this feat: anchored on President Duterte’s Executive Order 70, which institutionalizes the Whole-of-Nation Approach, the 53IB successfully converged and collaborated with its partner stakeholders to accomplish its mission.
The 53IB successfully sent a clear message that the government will continue to serve and free the people oppressed and taken advantage of by the enemy by employing hard- and soft-power approaches. The unit’s combat and non-combat efforts partnered with intensified Information Operations have penetrated even the remotest of places of the province: emplacement of tarpaulins, radio program operations, leafletting, and heightened social media operations are among the efforts of the Battalion that reached the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas – areas where Government services are far from inaccessible. In close partnership with concerned agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs), the 53IB successfully addressed the causes of insurgency at its roots by helping deliver essential services to the people, eventually leading to an influx of surrenders of Communist-NPA Terrorists (CNTs).
This endeavor paved the way for the declaration of Zamboanga del Sur as an insurgency-free and development-ready province. Indeed, the Battalion’s achievements would not have been possible without the strong partnership with its stakeholders in the government and the private sector.
Let me also commend 53IB for embracing the principle of servant-leadership. To emerge triumphant in this five-decade-long insurgency and terrorism perpetrated by the treacherous Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), the 53IB strived to be the servants of the people it has sworn to protect. To be able to lead, Matapat Troops acknowledged that they have to be servants first: servants of God, country, and people. You are a true model of excellence worthy of emulation.
To the stakeholders of 53IB, let me also congratulate and commend you for your untiring dedication and support to the Philippine Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a whole. Your enduring commitment to the 53IB’s peacekeeping efforts has borne fruit; now, after being declared as insurgency-free and ready for further development, the Province of Zamboanga del Sur sees the hope and light for progress that the 53 years of insurgency has denied.
Again, our deepest gratitude to those who have contributed to our efforts in winning the peace. Congratulations 53IB and your stakeholders, for a job well done!
Mabuhay ang Republika ng Pilipinas!
LTGEN ROMEO S BRAWNER JR PA
Commanding General, Philippine Army
Ending Five Decades of Insurgency: A Collective Victory for Zamboanga del Sur
Let me first start by congratulating and commending the 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) and its stakeholders for successfully ending the local communist armed conflict in Zamboanga del Sur.
First, I congratulate and commend the 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) and its stakeholders for successfully ending the local communist armed conflict in Zamboanga del Sur.
For fifty-four years, the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) has committed countless atrocities in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur by targeting vulnerable communities and innocent civilians. Without remorse, the enemy has killed their fellow Filipinos, extorted huge sums of money, and hampered government infrastructure projects by destroying heavy equipment intended to bring basic services to the people especially those located in remote hinterlands and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
This five-decade-long insurgency perpetrated by the CPP-NPA in the province was ended by the 53IB, the organic and operationally-controlled (OPCON) units of 102nd Infantry “IGSOON” Brigade (102Bde) and 1st Infantry “TABAK” Division (1ID) such as the 97th Infantry “KALASAG-LAHI” Battalion (97IB), 42nd Infantry “TAGAPAGTANGGOL” Battalion (42IB), 44th Infantry “AGILE ‘N STABLE” Battalion (44IB), 10th Infantry “STEADY…ON” Battalion (10IB), 1st Military Intelligence “LOS PRIMEROS SIEMPRE” Battalion (1MIB), 1st Civil-Military Operations “MAHIGALAON” Battalion (1CMOBn), 1st Field Artillery “BEAT ‘EM” Battalion (1FAB), 1st Cavalry “TAGAPANGUNA” Battalion (1CAV), 551st Engineer “KASARIGAN” Battalion (551EBn), 547th Engineer “AGILA” Battalion (547EBn), and its stakeholders by carefully carrying out the mandate of Executive Order 70 which was signed by President Duterte and intelligently planning out every move, thereby staying ahead of the enemy.
The 53IB has effectively and efficiently implemented its strategy founded on leadership, building trust, and communicating the strategy. Using close partnership and convergence, the 53IB and its stakeholders continue to address the causes of insurgency at the grassroots, eventually winning the people’s hearts and minds and denying the enemy of the people’s support.
TUG OF WAR | Victory in Time of Convergence: How the 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion and Stakeholders Ended the Local Communist Armed Conflict in Zamboanga del Sur showcases how convergence and collaboration with stakeholders play a crucial role in sustaining peace, highlighting why engaging the community and solving the societal ills exploited by the CPP-NPA in the hinterlands are critical factors in ending local communist armed conflict. The declaration of Zamboanga del Sur as insurgency-free and development-ready province has both boosted the morale and confidence of Zambosurians and proven that ending the five-decade-long communist armed conflict is possible, that there is hope.
Again, I express my heartfelt congratulations to 53IB and its internal and external stakeholders for this achievement. I hope that many people learn from this book, civilians and military personnel and commanders alike.
Mabuhay ang Philippine Army! Mabuhay ang Zamboanga del Sur!
MGEN GENE M PONIO PA
Commander
1st Infantry “TABAK” Division
Philippine Army
Turning the Tide Against Insurgency in the Zamboanga Peninsula
The war to end the local communist armed conflict is a constant tug-of-war between the government and the Communist Terrorist Groups for the people’s support. The government has conceptualized several approaches in order to end the decades-long problem of communist insurgency that has greatly affected the overall security situation and hampered the development programs in the country.
The Zamboanga Peninsula is one of the regions that has massively suffered from the long-time problem of insurgency, which has put several of its provinces in the top 40 poorest provinces in the country.
The Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee is the primary CTG organization operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Misamis Occidental that preyed on various vulnerable sectors that fell victim to their deceptive tactics.
In 2019, before the implementation of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 or the Creation of a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the accounted manpower and firepower of the WMRPC had reached 195 and 168, respectively.
However, the security landscape in Zamboanga Peninsula drastically transformed since the full implementation of EO 70, wherein the Whole-of-Nation approach was employed in full swing.
For the past three years, the government has accomplished significant gains in its campaign to end the insurgency in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The full integration of all government programs from different government agencies paved the way for clearing affected barangays and insulation of those vulnerable communities.
With the convergence and alignment of efforts brought about by the creation of the Local TF-ELCACs, several vertical and horizontal units of the WMRPC were dismantled and significantly weakened.
In addition to the domino effect of the dismantling of guerrilla fronts, two provinces of the Peninsula – Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, were declared as Insurgency-free by the respective Provincial Governments, which paved the way to several development opportunities for these provinces.
In recent years, many innovative programs and activities have been implemented by the different military units on the ground primarily to address the security situation in the province.
These innovations were responses to the ever-changing tactics of the enemy to the government campaigns.
As the Commander of 102nd Infantry “IGSOON” Brigade, who has operational jurisdiction of the three provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula to include Misamis Occidental, I have personally witnessed the various leadership styles imposed by the different battalion commanders of my subordinate units.
In this book, you will be able to acquire knowledge on how the Commanding Officer of the 53rd Infantry “MATAPAT” Battalion, in the person of Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar A. Herrera, juggled and managed his unit to excel in winning the peace in Zamboanga del Sur.
May this account of the best practices of 53IB guide other military leaders and partner stakeholders in their quest for peace, security, and progress.
BGEN LEONEL M NICOLAS PA
Commander
102nd Infantry “IGSOON” Brigade
Philippine Army
