AFP chief sacks Northern Mindanao reg'l military chief

MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista on Friday confirmed that he had ordered the relief of the military commander in Northern Mindanao.

Bautista said that the relief of Maj. Gen. Nestor Anonuevo as commander of the 4th Infantry Division, based in Cagayan de Oro City, is part of the leadership's "changing" of approach on the military's campaign against insurgency in the region.

“We are changing our approach. It’s just like a basketball game, we have to change strategy,” Bautista said.

The relief of the regional military commander came days after New People's Army (NPA) fighters ambushed the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona.

Bautista, however, said that the relief of Anonuevo was not related to the ambush.

Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya took over Anonuevo's post. Visaya was being pulled out from the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, where he was appointed deputy commander last April 1.

President Aquino had ordered the military and police leaderships to dismantle all checkpoints and roadblocks set up by the NPA not only in Northern Mindanao, but also in other areas of the country following the ambush and wounding of Mayor Guingona on Saturday night.

The lady mayor and his police escort were wounded while two of her drivers were killed in the attack.

Visaya's reassignment to head the Northern Mindanao military is largely viewed as a strategic move as he is a seasoned anti-insurgency military campaigner in Luzon. He had also made contributions in the military's campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless groups in Basilan and Zamboanga Peninsula.

A Scout Ranger officer, Visaya also served as head of Army troops deployed in Metro Manila several years back to address the communist infiltration in the metropolis.

“I am just an officer-in-charge here,” said Visaya following his assumption of command from Anonuevo in a simple turn over rite held at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City.  – Jaime Laude