FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año (in white polo barong) salutes as he walks along Army officials at the 10th Infantry Division (ID) headquarters in Mawab Davao de Oro on Wednesday (August 16, 2023). He was the guest speaker of the 17th founding anniversary celebration of the 10ID. (Photo courtesy of 10ID)
DAVAO CITY – National Security Adviser Eduardo Año hailed the transformation and development of the 10th Infantry Division (10ID), particularly in the fight against communist insurgency and terrorism.
Año, who is also the Director-General of the National Security Council, graced the 17th Founding Anniversary of the 10ID in Mawab, Davao de Oro, on Wednesday.
"Since the activation of the 10ID 17 years ago, transformations and developments have been made and built for the greater good of a region once called the heartland of the longstanding communist insurgency," he said in a 10ID statement on Thursday.
Año recalled that during his stint as the 10ID commander, they were confronted by the "most advanced and sophisticated territorial unit" of the New People’s Army (NPA), which is the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee (SMPRC).
The SMPRC is composed of five Sub-Regional Committees, each with three full-size Guerilla Fronts (GF), and eight Pulang Bagani Commands (PBC).
"Look at where we are now. It is very reassuring to know that the seeds we planted several years ago are bearing fruitful yields and are continually watered and nourished by the sweat and blood of our entire force,"Año said.
10ID head Maj. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra also emphasized the division's transformation over the past years into a steadfast military unit through various accomplishments in fighting communist rebels.
From 2016 to 2022, the 10ID neutralized 105 high-value targets and key leaders and caused the surrender of 13,689 members and their supporters.
The 10ID also dismantled 16 GFs and six PBCs, recovered 2,687 firearms, and cleared 390 barangays, which resulted in the declaration of an insurgency-free Davao Region in October last year.
"In a short period, despite being one of the youngest major units of the Philippine Army, 10ID has attained a significant number of these accomplishments,” Niembra said.
He lauded the brigade and battalion commanders, saying they played a key role in the success of the 10ID’s vision and mission.
“It is now our task to build upon these achievements and sustain our gains," he said. (PNA)
