Army chief assures ‘agile force to fight terrorism’

Major General Macairog Alberto, newly-installed Philippine Army chief, yesterday vowed to make the Army an “agile force” that would gallantly fight terrorism in the country and “guard the fragile peace we have so far achieved.”

“Today, we still continue to display the same gallantry and heroism in our vigilance against the threat of terrorism. Extremist groups still seek to destroy our society and our way of life, we must guard the fragile peace we have so far achieved,” Alberto said in his speech during the turnover at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

“I will therefore endeavour to make the Philippine Army a more agile force, one that is prepared and able to meet current and emerging threats in the country,” said Alberto, replacing Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista, who served for a year in the major service command under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Alberto’s statement stemmed from the five-month long siege in Marawi City by the Islamic Statelinked Maute group in 2017 that killed hundreds of soldiers, civilians and even the terrorists themselves.

Alberto, a former chief of the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP), also committed to develop the Army’s land power capability “to where it is needed,” in support of the military’s general headquarters missions.

“I will also look after the morale and welfare of our troops by supporting our soldiers’ family programmes and improving the way we care for our wounded soldiers and surviving family members,” he said.

Alberto is a graduate under the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) “Sinagtala” Class of 1986 while Bautista is under the “Sandiwa” Class of 1985.