While commending the government's uniformed troops for their exceptional job in keeping the country safe, President Marcos has also asked the military to support government programs aimed at providing livelihood, land, and shelter to rebels wanting to return to the fold of the law.

Marcos said this during his Talk to Troops at the Philippine Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade headquarters in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, on Friday, Feb. 16.

In his speech, the President said the national government was leading the campaign to urge rebels to return to the fold of the law, and the military, as peacemakers, must participate as well.

"We must remember that kahit papaano, ang kaharap natin, Pilipino din 'yan (they'er also Filipinos)," Marcos said, referring to the rebels.

"Imbes na maglaban tayo ay pababain na natin sila at tulungan natin sila na magkaroon ng maganda namang buhay upang hindi na sila lumaban sa gobyerno (Instead of fighting, let's help them come down and have better lives so they won't have to fight the government)," he added.

Marcos noted that the military pressure exerted on the rebels was one of the reasons why many have already decided to surrender, but the military should also help in the reintegration process.

"Mayroon din tayong program upang sila’y bigyan nga ng hanapbuhay, bigyan sila ng lupa, kung saan ang tinitirahan nila. Bigyan natin sila ng tulong na galing sa pamahalaan (We have programs giving them livelihood, land, and shelter. Let's give them assistance from the government)," he said.

 

"That is where even the soldiers have to come in and the local governments. The national government, of course, is leading that, but the soldiers have to play their part as well," he added.

"Maganda naman ang nagiging resulta (We're seeing good results) and we’re making progress at dahan-dahan nakikita natin, nababawasan ang gulo sa bawat (we're slowly seeing a decrease in the trouble)—everywhere around the country," he continued.

Meanwhile, President Marcos praised the military for achieving success in neutralizing communist/terrorist groups in the Caraga and nearby regions this year.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) Diamond is composed of the Army’s 401st, 402nd, 403rd, and 901st Infantry Brigades, covering most parts of Caraga and Northern Mindanao.

“Mukha naman maganda ang progress dito (The progress here looks good). In fact, there is a projection by the planning that [perhaps] by the end of the year, hopefully, the target is, by the end of the year, masasabi natin na cleared na talaga ang inyong area (we can say that the area is cleared),” Marcos told the troops.

Among the notable accomplishments of the JTF Diamond included the neutralization of 200 communist rebels/terrorists (144 surrendered, 44 killed, and 12 captured) and the seizure of 311 firearms.

It also supported the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which grants financial assistance, livelihood training and grants, firearm remuneration, and housing and education assistance.

Since 2021, the units under the Army’s 4ID helped facilitate the surrender of 2,596 former rebels, of whom 2,167, or 83 percent, were already awarded benefits under the E-CLIP. 

There is a reported downtrend in the presence of insurgents in the JTF Diamond’s area of operation, from 437 rebels in the first quarter of 2023 to 312 as of Feb. 15, 2024.

With the military’s relentless campaign, two regional insurgent committees, with a total of 312 members and 306 firearms, have retreated to the mountains and no longer influence nearby barangays.