President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. looks forward to declaring Northern Samar province free from communist terrorist groups (CTGs) by the end of 2023. This, as he cited the accomplishments of the 803rd Infantry (Peacemakers) Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Northern Samar. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the 803rd Infantry Brigade in Sumuroy, Northern Samar. (RTVM screenshot) In his remarks, the Chief Executive noted the “very encouraging deadline” given to him during a briefing on the division’s success rate. He said this during his visit Friday, July 14 to Camp Juan Ponce of the 803rd Infantry (Peacemakers) Brigade in Sumuroy, Northern Samar and on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project. “I just received the briefing on the success rate sa ating pagbuwag, sa ating pag-dismantle ng mga front, pag-weaken ng mga ibang front (in our demolition, in our dismantling of the front, the weakening of the other front),” he said. “And I was also given a very encouraging deadline that masabi natin that we will have dismantled all of the CTG (communist terrorist groups) fronts by the end of the year and that is the result of your good work,” the President added. Based on this progress, Marcos stressed that “We are looking forward to declaring that province clear of CTGs by the end of the year.” He lauded the officers of the 803rd IB, whose work has led to the successful counterinsurgency operations. The President also emphasized that he cannot wait to visit the province again to declare it free from all forms of insurgencies. “Patuloy ang pagpaganda ng sitwasyon dito at (The improvement of the situation here will continue and) I am very, very impatient already to come back here and to be with you when we declare your area of operation clear of any CTG formations, any CTG groups,” Marcos said. “And that will be a big, big blow to the enemy forces because they have always felt that Northern Samar is a place that they feel safe in,” he added. But the Chief Executive also wants the rebels to go back into the fold of the law, and he challenged the 803rd IB to make this possible through the government’s support. “So, that is the plan. This is how we are going to move forward but this is all founded, it is all based, on the continuing good work that you put in every day,” he said. But despite their recent accomplishments, he warned the soldiers not to let their guard down. “You are still now in Northern Samar, on the frontline. Kaya’t (That’s why) do not let your guard down. Continue to do what you have been doing dahil (because), as I said, it has been successful, it has been effective and we can see that from the weakening of the enemy forces,” Marcos told the troops.