Panayam kay AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar
Panayam kay AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar
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00:00 88th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and another update.
00:04 We will talk with Colonel Medel Aguilar,
00:08 the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
00:11 Colonel Aguilar, good afternoon.
00:14 Good afternoon to you too, Ms. Ninia,
00:17 and good afternoon to all our viewers.
00:20 So, happy anniversary.
00:22 Colonel, happy anniversary to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
00:28 Yes, sir. We are very grateful to all our viewers for your warm welcome.
00:34 We are here to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
00:42 Okay, let's start with the status of the internal security campaign of the AFP
00:50 against the communist groups.
00:52 How many guerrilla fronts are being targeted by the AFP?
00:58 The change and accomplishment of our pledge cluster
01:06 in our campaign against communist insurgency
01:10 resulted in the elimination of armed groups,
01:15 the so-called,
01:17 the dissolution of their organized masses,
01:20 basing masses,
01:21 and of course, the elimination of the party
01:26 and its surroundings,
01:28 including the elimination of guerrilla fronts.
01:32 In fact, according to our received reports,
01:36 there are no longer active guerrilla fronts
01:38 in the entire Philippines.
01:42 All of them have been eliminated.
01:44 And our armed forces of the Philippines will continue
01:47 to carry out our focused military operation
01:52 and at the same time, helping other government agencies
01:54 implement programs such as the ECLIP, the RCSP,
01:59 and hopefully this time, with the support of the Amnesty Proclamation
02:04 by our President,
02:05 so that we will be able to recover the remaining armed groups.
02:11 So, Colonel, I just read your pronouncement about guerrilla fronts.
02:18 So, we started this year,
02:20 there were 22 guerrilla fronts in the country.
02:24 Two of them are active.
02:27 So, what is the latest update on the number of guerrilla fronts?
02:39 Yes, Colonel Aguilar was eliminated.
02:42 We will bring him back when we already have him back on our show.
02:47 Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office or LTO
02:57 is preparing testing centers for the testing of roadworthiness of PUVs
03:02 that will be allowed to travel in the next year.
03:06 According to LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza,
03:10 the second, the public transportation should be checked
03:15 and should be in accordance with the Philippine National Standard
03:19 where the vehicle should be Euro 4.
03:22 Aside from the visual inspection,
03:24 the LTO is now planning to use machinery
03:29 to check the motor vehicle inspection centers
03:33 for the machines of the public utility vehicles.
03:38 The Department of Agrarian Reform and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries,
03:49 and Agrarian Reform or MAFAR of the Banca Moro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARM
03:55 agreed to implement the first comprehensive reform program in BARM.
04:03 More than 100,000 hectares of land
04:06 are allocated to Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and Special Geographic Areas.
04:13 Secretary Conrado Estrella III also agreed to get additional funds
04:20 to build new infrastructure, machinery, and equipment for agriculture in BARM.
04:28 The agreement also aims to improve the lives of residents in BARM.
04:34 There.
04:40 So we will now return to Colonel Aguilar.
04:43 Sir, are you back on the line?
04:45 Yes, sir.
04:48 I'm back.
04:49 Okay.
04:51 So we were interrupted in our conversation about Guerrilla France
04:55 because many of our countrymen want to know
04:58 what the status of our comprehensive activities
05:04 on the NPA Guerrilla France in the country is.
05:07 Like what I said earlier,
05:09 we started this year with 22 Guerrilla France
05:13 and of these 22,
05:15 two are active in Northern Samar
05:18 and the rest, 20, are weekend.
05:21 Do we have the latest development
05:23 on what happened to these 22 Guerrilla France as of today?
05:28 Actually, I'm excited to give the news
05:32 because it will make our countrymen happy,
05:36 especially if we're talking about the Guerrilla France
05:40 because of the many accomplishments of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
05:45 in the field of infiltration
05:47 to the rebelling groups
05:49 and in their pursuit,
05:51 sometimes it results in...
05:53 [inaudible]
05:56 [inaudible]
06:05 There.
06:06 [inaudible]
06:08 Our connection with Colonel Medel Aguilar is being cut off.
06:14 Okay, let's try to get him back later.
06:17 But well, happy 88th.
06:19 -88th anniversary of AFP. -Anniversary.
06:22 So let's go back to Colonel Medel Aguilar.
06:27 Earlier, we were asking about the update
06:29 on the 22 weekend, well, 22 Guerrilla France
06:33 of the CPP-NPA at the beginning of the year.
06:36 Colonel Aguilar, are you back?
06:38 Yes, sir.
06:40 I'm excited to give a new number
06:44 because I'm sure that it will be low.
06:47 In fact, according to the figure we're validating,
06:52 it may be less than 15 weekend Guerrilla France.
06:56 Wow.
06:57 This includes the decrease in the number of armed forces
07:02 that pose a threat to our countrymen
07:06 and to the programs implemented by the government.
07:09 So there's a lot of development
07:11 although we will come up with the exact figure
07:14 once the validation is completed.
07:17 Okay. So you know, Nina,
07:19 the validation is also long.
07:21 It cannot be just the armed forces that will say,
07:24 "We're also consulting the local government units
07:27 and everyone before we declare a certain Guerrilla France
07:31 as wiped out already."
07:33 So at least, Colonel, it's clear
07:35 that it will be 50 or less weekend Guerrilla France
07:40 and no more active Guerrilla France as of this year.
07:44 You're right.
07:46 Because there's no active Guerrilla France,
07:48 there's no program that will implement our Guerrilla France.
07:54 They're having a hard time recruiting
07:56 because they are on the run.
07:58 And they are also having a hard time
08:00 to generate resources
08:02 to use against our government and our citizens.
08:09 Okay. Colonel, we've talked to the terrorist Abu Sayyaf
08:14 and violent extremists like the BIFF
08:17 and other local terrorists in Mindanao.
08:20 How is the campaign that our soldiers are carrying out?
08:25 The success of our campaign,
08:29 the discussion in the LTG is very big.
08:31 And we can see this if we go to the island of Sulu
08:36 where the change is already very big.
08:39 You can walk in the middle of the river
08:45 without being afraid of being shot.
08:49 Because our preventing and countering violent extremism
08:54 is already very effective.
08:57 Number one, in the face of the threat
09:00 that many of us are neutralized and arrested.
09:03 And there are also surrenders.
09:05 This is a very good indicator in the success of our PCVE
09:09 because in other countries,
09:11 we can see that there are bombings and killings.
09:14 But in our country, we can see surrenders
09:17 of members of the local terrorist organizations.
09:20 Okay. So many have surrendered
09:23 and Mindanao is now calm
09:26 based on the assessment of the armed forces.
09:28 Is that right, Colonel?
09:30 That's right.
09:31 The improvement in peace and order is already big.
09:34 We don't see many encounters anymore.
09:38 Even the group of the Abu Sayyaf group,
09:41 I'm referring to the AISG in Sulu,
09:44 surrendered their right hand
09:46 to the highest commander there
09:49 and he was also declared dead.
09:51 Plus, we don't have the presence of foreign terrorist fighters
09:57 so it's disconnected from the regional terrorist organizations
10:01 or those who live here.
10:04 So they are really having a hard time
10:06 to generate resources to support their illegal activities.
10:09 All right. So sir, with that,
10:11 can we say that the AFP is ready
10:14 to transition the focus from internal security
10:18 to external security or territorial defense?
10:22 That's what we're doing now.
10:26 Actually, we are moving assets and equipment
10:31 for our territorial defense operations
10:35 because what we're fighting for is very important
10:39 to us, exclusive economic zones, maritime territorial seas,
10:44 that will benefit our countrymen.
10:47 So we are actually shifting
10:50 and we are moving our capabilities
10:54 to address territorial defense threats.
10:57 Okay, Colonel. Christmas is coming.
11:01 Is the AFP ready to ensure
11:04 that the celebration of Filipino National Day is peaceful and safe?
11:09 We will help the Philippine National Police
11:14 to maintain peace.
11:16 We have already discussed this
11:18 and we have also informed the PNP
11:23 because it is the agency that is taking the lead
11:26 when it comes to law enforcement operations.
11:30 So we are ready.
11:32 And I think with a reduced threat,
11:35 especially to the CPP-NPA and the local terrorist group,
11:40 there will be lesser concerns that we will be dealing with.
11:44 And we hope that this celebration of the Unified Season
11:47 will be peaceful and happy for all.
11:49 Okay. The 88th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is approaching.
11:59 What programs and activities will the AFP hold?
12:03 And are Nina and I invited to that celebration?
12:07 First, I will answer the question if you are invited.
12:13 Maybe you should be there at our celebration
12:17 so that at least we are with you
12:20 and we are happy to know the success
12:25 of our Armed Forces of the Philippines
12:27 so that it will be a big boost to the morale of our countrymen.
12:32 Now when you talk about the activities involved in the 88th anniversary of the AFP,
12:37 we did a lot.
12:39 First is the discussion when we talk about issues involving the West Philippine Sea.
12:44 And then we also have activities such as moral and welfare activities,
12:50 the recognition of our soldiers' patriotism.
12:54 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
12:58 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:00 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:04 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:06 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:08 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:10 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:12 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:14 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:16 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:18 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:20 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:22 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:24 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:26 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:28 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:30 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:32 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:34 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:36 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:38 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:40 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:42 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:44 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:46 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:48 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:50 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:52 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:54 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:56 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
13:58 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:00 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:02 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:04 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:06 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:08 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:10 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:12 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:14 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:16 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:18 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:20 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:22 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:24 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:26 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.
14:28 We have a ceremony of the Filipino soldiers.