MAJOR General Benjamin Dolorfino of the Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) has said the armed forces can truly carry out its mandate when there’s committed support among society's basic stakeholders.
Taking his turn to speak during the joint meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Peace and Order Council (RPOC) last Dec. 10, he explained he is exhorting the military, local government units and the people in general.
Dolorfino scored the need for mutual support and collaboration among the three stakeholders, emphasizing on logic that it's no use solving the problem without giving attention to the cause first.
“There's no use cutting the branches and leaves if we do not address the roots. We have to work together,” he said as he explained that the military is “in the process of revising the internal security campaign.”
What he meant was their combat against domestic enemies, their dealing with domestic disturbances and anti-insurgency movement within WESMINCOM’s jurisdiction.
He then revealed their six lines of operations: promoting peace and order, good governance, socio-economic development, cultural harmony, environmental management, and public information.
Dolorfino added that they are exerting all efforts to neutralize lawless forces operating in Western Mindanao and to date they have identified four local terrorist groups operating with 136 members in 17 terrorized barangays around Zamboanga Peninsula.
In Zambosur, he identified the place as Bayog, Mahayag, Josefina, Molave, Guipos, Tigbao, Pitogo, San Pablo, Kumalarang, Lapuyan and Margosatubig.
On the issue that the military gave special treatment to foreign kidnap victims, Dolorfino responded that they have conducted several rescue operations on kidnapped victims in the past that were not announced by the media.
Furthermore, he said that the police and military do not act with favoritism in solving abduction cases based on the nationality of the victims. “We are not only warriors, we also lead the way to peace and development,” was his parting words.
WITH REPORT BY ZAMBOSUR PROVINCIAL PRESS BUREAU