743 killed or arrested in military ops in 2015 — Army chief

SEVEN hundred forty-three enemies of the government were either killed or arrested in military operations the past year, Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said on Tuesday.

At the Army’s 119th anniversary at Fort Bonifacio, Año said that 595 members of the New People’s Army were either killed or arrested, while there were 82 from the Abu Sayyaf group, 10 from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and 56 from the Maute Group. All these were the results of almost 300,000 focused military operations that the Army conducted from 2015 to early 2016.

Soldiers also have recovered 171 high-powered firearms, five crew-served weapons, 119 low-powered firearms from all the threat groups.

Año also mentioned the Army’s acquisitions in the past year of new weapons and equipment, such as 56,643 R4 assault rifles, 124 armored vehicles, 60 field ambulance units, 300 AFP light utility vehicles, 155 mm howitzers, 60-mm mortars, 40-mm grenade launchers, rocket launcher light units and 50-watt AV configuration radios.

He assured the public that they will do better in protecting the country.

President Benigno Aquino III took pride of the acquisitions  of the Army and the rest of the military, saying that there are 68 modernization projects of the Armed Forces of the Philippines worth P58.43 billion completed since he assumed office. About P7.79 billion or 26 projects went to the Army.

“Ipunto ko lang: Itong AFP Modernization, hindi lang iyan lagpas-lagpas sa inasahan nating magagawa sa loob ng anim na taon; lagpas-lagpas din iyan sa talagang nagawa ng tatlong administrasyong nauna sa atin,” he said.

The President, who is attending the Army anniversary for the last time as commander-in-chief, said he is leaving a “high morale” Philippine Army and is “ready to fight any battle.”

Aquino has 100 days left in office which will end on June 30. He ordered the military to stay away from politics:  Kaya naman, sa paparating na halalan, malinaw ang atas sa atin ng sambayanan: Manatili sa kanilang panig, huwag makihalo sa pulitika, at siguruhing mananaig ang nagkakaisang tinig ng bayang tumatahak sa landas ng demokrasya.