Maj. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr. (File photo) MANILA - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has named Maj. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., former Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CRSAFP) chief, as the new commander of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom). Torres will replace former Nolcom commander, Lt Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos. In a January 7 letter addressed to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Duterte said he has accepted the latter's endorsement to designate Torres as new Nolcom commander. "I wish to inform you that, per your letter-endorsement and in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Chairman AFP Board of Generals, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8186, as amended by Republic Act No. 9188, the designation of Major General Ernesto C. Torres Junior O-10054 Philippine Army as Commander, Northern Luzon Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines vice Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcel
Published July 20, 2021 10:01am The number of communist armed groups in Southern Mindanao has been reduced from 23 in 2016 to only six, the commander of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army said Monday. In a virtual press conference of the government’s anti-insurgency task force, 10ID commander Major General Ernesto C. Torres said there is a continuous trend of rebels surrendering to authorities. He said from 2016, state forces were able “to trim down the number of communist guerrilla fronts in the region from a high of 23 down to only six at present.” The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said since 2016, 18,433 communist rebels have surrendered to the government, including 92 “child soldiers.”