President Duterte has given a total of P11 million cash reward to top performing military units in Mindanao for neutralizing several alleged high-ranking leaders of the New People's Army (NPA).
Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), personally handed over P7 million in cash to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and P2 million to the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) during a ceremony held at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario Covered Court in Camp Panacan, Davao City on Tuesday, June 15.
According to Sobejana, P2 million was given to the Military Intelligence Group–16 of the Intelligence Service (ISAFP), P5 million to the 11th Intelligence and Security Unit of the Army Intelligence Regiment; and P2 million to the 67th Infantry Battalion.
Another P2 million was also given to the 90th Infantry Battalion, 6th Infantry Division (6ID) of WestMinCom.
The AFP Chief identified the alleged "high-value individuals" who were neutralized by the military as Marcelino Navarro, second deputy secretary and head of Education and Propaganda Unit of NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC); Manuel Magante Gilo, finance officer of Regional Operations Command of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (ROC-SMRC); and Romeo Lendio Libron, ROC-SMRC Commanding Officer.
Also killed in military operations were Rogelio Masaya Udal, regional ordinance member and former Pulang Bagani Command (PBC-1) vice commanding officer; Zaldy Gulmatico Pulido, secretary of Guerrilla Front 53; and Danny Huit, secretary of Guerrilla Front North, SRC-1, SMRC.
The military considers communist insurgency as the top internal security threat being faced by the country under the administration of Duterte.
Sobejana said this was the reason why he was ordered by Duterte to personally deliver the cash reward to the military units for their "success in killing NPA leaders" in various operations since 2020.
"Our President really monitors what we are doing. In fact, I heard from him the units that made a difference and contributed more towards the attainment of sustainable peace and development shall be recognized. And that is a manifestation that our Commander-in-Chief does not want our accomplishments to go unnoticed," Sobejana said.
The AFP Chief of Staff, however, stressed that even in the absence of monetary rewards, the troops stand ready to serve the country and protect the Filipinos.
"We do not want to impress upon the public that our soldiers expected a reward to every move but we want to demonstrate that even without it, your soldiers are motivated and ready to serve," Sobejana said.
"We are always on the go and we ensure that we are able to uphold our mandates as the defender of the territory and protector of the Filipino people," he added.