Marcos praises AFP task force for anti-terrorism efforts in Zamboanga Peninsula
In his speech at the Kuta Major Cesar Sang-an in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on Saturday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. commended the 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao (JTF ZamPeLan) for successfully fighting terrorist organizations.
“Dahil maganda ang performance ninyo, lagi namin i-expect sa inyo na laging maganda rin ang performance ninyo. Pero you have never failed the country,” said Marcos.
“You have never failed to answer the call of duty with honor, with pride, and with the passion and the love for the Republic of the Philippines.”
Marcos added that after the AFP’s victory in clearing terrorists from the Zamboanga Peninsula, the troops are now tasked to become peacemakers as they begin to clear out the terrorists' influence in the area and help support tourism and investment promotions efforts.
“Papunta na tayo sa dulo ng peace process and that’s why we are very optimistic about all of the development and the progress that we will be seeing in the area,” said the President.
During his visit, around 200 officials and troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the 1st Infantry Division gave the President a situation briefing.
The Joint Task Force Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao (JTF ZamPeLan) is composed of the 1st Infantry Division, Nacal Task Group-ZamPeLan, and Tactical Operations Group 9.
The task force confronts two different threat groups: the communist terrorist group (CTG) and the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG).
In his visit, Marcos also addressed the proliferation of loose firearms; containing private armed groups in preparation for the upcoming 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections; and supporting the normalization process, particularly the decommissioning of MILF combatants and the MNLF’s transformation program activities. — DVM, GMA Integrated News