FORT MAGSAYSAYSAY, Palayan City – The Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID) is set to “pound” Bulacan province, particularly Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT), with combined armed and civilian military operations to fully rid its area of responsibility of rebels before the yearend.
This, as ranking military officers identified Bulacan as the lone province within 7ID operational jurisdiction not declared insurgency-free during the turn-over ceremonies of the command from newly installed Northern Luzon Commander, Major Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang to Brig. Gen. Hernando Iriberri Friday.
Wishing Iriberri “all the luck”, Catapang said he wanted all Nolcom areas clear of insurgency before year-end as he reiterated shifting military thrust to territorial defense.
“Dito naman po sa 7th Division, ‘yung Bulacan na lang po ang ating kailangang i-clear,” he said.
Iriberri said that DRT has been a strategic location for rebels because of its location which is adjacent to Rizal and Quezon provinces.
“Dahil ito ay boundary ng Rizal, nagki-crisscross ang mga armado doon,” the new 7th ID chief said. He expected Bulacan to be declared “peaceful and ready for further development soon.”
Iriberri said he will conduct “focused military operation to dismantle armed groups in the area and we will continue our peace and development in the whole area of 7th ID “ with full support of his staff, officers and men.
Iriberri, a native of Surigao Sur, found his AOR vital as it includes, he said, the gateway to our country’s seat of government from the north. “(It) holds immense strategic importance in fueling our nation’s development and in sustaining our economy’s dynamism,” he said, adding this characteristic adds “weight and complexity to our mission.”
To address the insurgency in Bulacan, he said, “we will have the right mix of military operations and establishing good relationship with all the stakeholders of peace.”
