By Mike Crismundo
CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – The newly designated commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom/EMC) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Maj. Gen. Jose C. Faustino, Jr. noted the vital role of field unit commanders in the Task Force –End of Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC), as he encouraged the “all-out support to achieve the government’s peace and development” program.
402nd Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Maurito L. Licudine (left) pinpoints at the machinegun seized during an encounter with field communist terrorists in Caraga region (Photo courtesy of 402nd Brigade-CMO via Mike Crismundo/MANILA BULLETIN)
Faustino stressed the importance of properly performing every task and emphasized the participation of all the AFP unit commanders and its personnel in the TF-ELCAC under the EO70.
“This is the solution to end the more than five decades of the insurgency problem,” stressed Faustino, before the command group and personnel of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade based here, on Saturday, February 8.
“We have a positive outlook of the security situation and we have gained significant headways but the challenge is how we can sustain our efforts,” stressed the EastMinCom chief.
“Hence, we need to perform our tasks 100 percent and contribute to our campaign in our own little ways,” he said.
“Our job is to protect the people, secure the land,” the EastMinCom chief added.
Faustino’s visit to the 402nd “Stingers” Brigade was his first field visit to a Brigade in the EMC Area of Responsibility (AOR) since his assumption as the 12th Commander of the EastMinCom last January 25, 2020.
Prior to his designation as the new EastMinCom Chief, Faustino was the commander of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division where he led various operations which resulted in the dismantling of different New People’s Army (NPA) units in Regions 11 and 12. He also served as the former head of the 11th Intelligence Service Unit based in Davao City as well as led the 35th Infantry Battalion and 501st Infantry Brigade.