AFP chief: More soldiers needed

MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said Friday that the number of soldiers should increase to make the military more responsive to challenges posed by a higher population and insurgency.

Bautista noted that military’s strength has not changed even if the country’s population has grown by almost 100 million.

“The ideal is to increase the number of military personnel so we can address [the challenges] and so that we can be more responsive,” the military chief said.

Bautista said the strength of their troops is subject to budgetary constraints.

“But we take it as a challenge,” he said. “We work within (these) constraints.”

The military’s strength stands at about 120,000.

Bautista said the cooperation of civilians can make up for the low number of military personnel.

“If everyone helps, I am sure we will be able to curb violence,” he said.

Observers said the lack of military personnel allows rebels to launch deadly attacks like last Saturday’s ambush of the convoy of Gingoog City Ruthie Guingona.

The attack left two persons dead and three others, including Guingona, injured. Critics said security forces should explain why they do not have presence in the area where the ambush happened.

‘Jurassic concept’

Meanwhile, Bautista called on the communist rebels to surrender, labeling the concept of armed struggle as “Jurassic.”

“It’s about time we get together as a nation to finally put an end to violence, to armed struggle. It will not solve our problems. It’s a Jurassic concept,” he said.

Unity among all sectors, Bautista said, is the key to achieving lasting peace.

Communist rebels, however, are not keen on heeding the military chief’s appeal.

Three soldiers were wounded in an attack staged by insurgents in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro last Thursday.

Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command, said soldiers from the 76th Infantry Battalion had been conducting patrols in the area when they were fired upon by the rebels.

Wounded during the clash were Pfcs. Ariel Juagpao, Merdilito Sagmayao, and Aldrin Jamiro. They were airlifted to the Armed Forces Medical Center in Quezon City for treatment. – Alexis Romero with Bjorn Beltran and Catalina Madarang