New CL Army chief to keep ‘cedula’ drive



THE incoming Army commander in Central Luzon on Wednesday vowed to continue the military’s anti-insurgency drive in the region, including the cedula campaign of his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.

Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, the incoming commander of the 7th Infantry Division, said, however, that he would be more “refined” in implementing the campaign.

“Asking for identification during a patrol is an SOP [standard operating procedure]. But our troops should be courteous,” Gomez said in a chance interview in Camp Aguinaldo.

He added that soldiers should be taught on how to be patient in dealing with the people, since most of them were only deceived by the communist rebels.

“Our soldiers should not loose their patience. These people have been deceived. We have to broaden our understanding,” Gomez said.

Cedula campaign—requires residents, especially in Nueva Ecija, to present community tax certificate to prove that they are not members of the New People’s Army—has been widely assailed by militant groups and human-rights advocates.

Gomez, who is credited for helping boost the tourism industry of Bohol where he was previously assigned, said that he would instill “strict” discipline among his soldiers to win in the anti-insurgency campaign.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. had expressed high hopes that Gomez success story in spurring tourism in Bohol would also help him in the fight against communism in Central Luzon.

Reports said that Gomez’s campaign against the rebels had enticed some 1 million tourists to visit the province a few years ago and forced some rebel fighters to surrender and return to the fold.

Gomez is the commander of military forces in Metro Manila and had served as assistant commander of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz and commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade in Bohol.

--Anthony Vargas