Quest for peace, Army’s battle

Before the Philippines turned its attention to external threats, thousands of soldiers bravely faced relentless internal security challenges in the country’s mountainous regions and remote communities, battling against the persistent scourge of local terrorism.

Today, Filipinos stand grateful for the sacrifices of our heroes who triumphed over local terrorism, as evidenced by the significant decline in insurgent attacks across the countryside — a testament to their relentless fight and unwavering determination.

However, this success has not led to complacency. Our soldiers remain even more resilient, driven by a stronger determination to stand guard, protect the people, and defend our land against any future threats posed by remaining peace destroyers, including the holdouts of the waning communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Gacis Dema-ala’s journey as a battalion commander in the dense jungles of Davao Oriental, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur was not only a testament to his bravery and commitment but also his proactive pursuit of peace in a region long plagued by communist insurgency.

The challenges of terrain, weather, and constant vigilance shaped Dema-ala’s current leadership as each mission took him deeper into the wilderness.

Dema-ala said soldiers’ determination to pursue their enemies is matched only by their unyielding drive to fulfill their duty.

For decades, the NPA’s tactical offensive has become resounding blows against the Philippine Army, with the national government pushing for a better resolve to “winning the war against the communist insurgency” in the country.

Now, the Philippines is reaping the gains of the government’s efforts and the military’s sacrifices in the campaign to dismantle the NPAs.

The communist rebels in the countryside are now weakening, while most of them have returned to the folds of the law and help the government break the cycle of violence that has afflicted Filipinos for decades.

“The challenge to me, when I was assigned as a battalion commander, was that, before I finished as a battalion commander, we had to neutralize all the guerrilla fronts in that place — by all means, the rebels should be able to surrender,” he told the DAILY TRIBUNE in an exclusive interview.

Dema-ala mentioned the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which institutionalized a whole-of-nation approach against local terrorism in 2018, has become the backbone of his army unit to fulfill their mission — to weaken the enemy or eliminate their violence.

As a battalion commander in 2019, Dema-ala was adamant about neutralizing all the communist guerilla fronts in his areas of operation, contributing to the government in pushing an effective solution against communist insurgency.

“We are already implementing the NTF-ELCAC. We’ve seen the government services already entering the far-flung areas, so it is high time that my unit does its best to fully neutralize the armed [rebel] group. That’s our objective so that all basic services can be fully blasted,” he said.

Dema-ala emphasized that relentlessly pursuing insurgents was not just a military duty, but a vital contribution to the nation’s broader goal of achieving lasting and inclusive peace across the entire archipelago.

“Insurgency will not end until we neutralize their leaders. Through continuous, focused military operations, in tandem with the provision of basic services and a whole-of-government approach involving local government units, NPA members are slowly surrendering. Their mass bases have weakened, and their underground mass organizations have been converted into people’s organizations,” Dema-ala noted.

Destined as soldier

Dema-ala, who was born on 11 April 1977 in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, has proven himself in public service, not just as a military officer but as a visionary leader committed to shaping the future of the Philippine Army.

He was the son of a soldier who also served as a military commander in the southern Philippines.

Dema-ala shared he was aiming to become a “mechanical engineer or civil engineer or both.”

But his destiny brought him to wear a camouflage uniform like his father.

He was used to roaming around his father’s battalion headquarters where he met and mingled with soldiers who had rendered full service to the nation.

“While waiting for the result of my PMA exam, my father’s staff prepared to become a soldier,” he shared.

The young Dema-ala was further exposed to the world of soldiers, joining them in their daily routine and tireless military training.

The unwavering commitment to the service of those people he trained with has pushed Dema-ala to ultimately step up to become one of the Army’s most dedicated leaders.

“That’s the reason why I chose to serve in the Army. It was challenging but I made it through,” he said.

Dedicated to service, leadership

As one of the key figures in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Dema-ala is known as a dedicated and disciplined soldier.

He was a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Masikhay” Class of 1999.

On 1 April 1995, Dema-ala was appointed full-time in the military service. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the AFP’s regular force on 28 March 1999.

His educational foundation at the PMA provided him not only the skills needed to lead in combat but also the intellectual tools to think critically. The academy helped him fine-tune his decisions in implementing effective military strategies in various operations while keeping the values of good governance.

Over the years, he would continue to advance his education, earning a Master’s degree in National Security Administration (MNSA) and a Master’s in Strategic Human Resource Management from Wollongong University in Australia.

Dema-ala’s career in the military has been marked by a series of increasingly significant roles. He has served in a variety of capacities, from platoon leader to battalion commander, earning respect and admiration from his peers and subordinates alike.

His first major assignment was in the 7th Infantry Division (7ID), where he served as Executive Officer, Platoon Leader, and Responsible Supply Officer.

One of the most notable chapters of his career came between 2019 and 2021 when he commanded the 67th Infantry “Agila” Battalion, 10th Infantry Division, based in Davao Oriental.

His leadership during this period was instrumental in the success of the Army’s numerous military operations, particularly the fight against insurgency.

Dema-ala earned recognition for his exemplary performance as battalion commander.

Under his command, the “Agila” Battalion not only conducted successful combat operations against NPAs, but also fostered a culture of discipline, camaraderie and community engagements in the revolutionists-infiltrated communities.

Dema-ala’s leadership has not been confined to the battlefield alone as he held key staff positions, such as Executive Officer for the Philippine Army’s Plans Office (OG5) and as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations (G7) at the 10th Infantry Division.

His work in civil-military operations demonstrated his belief in the importance of connecting with communities, fostering peace, and rebuilding lives in areas affected by conflict.

Shaping Army’s future

Dema-ala’s leadership was crucial to pursuing transformative initiatives within the Philippine Army.

In 2013, he studied at Wollongong University, New South Wales, Australia, where he completed his Master’s Degree in Strategic Human Resource Management with Distinction.

Upon his return from schooling abroad, Dema-ala became instrumental in the military’s human resource management. He was involved in the formulation of HR policies and played a key role in the institutionalization of the Personnel Accounting Information System. He also initiated the creation of the Army’s Job Description Handbook, a crucial tool for improving personnel management.

In 2017, he engaged himself in implementing and institutionalizing the Army Transformation Roadmap, which led to the major service’s induction into the prestigious Palladium Hall of Fame.

He stated this initiative was aimed at modernizing the Philippine Army, improving governance, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of military operations.

Recognized servant, leader

Throughout his career, Dema-ala’s excellence has not gone unnoticed as he received numerous awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Star, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Cross Medal, and the Military Merit Medal.

These recognitions speak to his unwavering commitment to duty; his leadership in combat operations; and his contributions to the peace and stability of the Philippines.

His service has also earned him the Combat Commander Kagitingan Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation Badge, and multiple Campaign Medals, including those for Anti-Dissidence Campaigns in Luzon, Mindanao, and other key operations across the country.

Family man

Despite the hectic demands of his military career, Dema-ala remains grounded by his family, which serves as his inspiration to push better in his current career.

He is happily married to a fellow soldier, Maylette De Guzman and a father to Luis Mikko, Liam and Laiden.

Dema-ala mentioned the challenging aspects of raising children while balancing the responsibilities of being a father and husband.

Proactive Army PAO

As the current Public Affairs Chief of the Army, Dema-ala shared his thrusts in the military service.

“My only mission is to propagate truthful and timely information to the public,” he said.

“I want to show what the Army really is–from the perspectives of public affairs. That’s my priority.”

Dema-ala said he was challenged when he was offered to lead the Army’s public affairs office as he was not really exposed to the job.

“I am not really familiar with the operations of public affairs because I was exposed to civil-military activities and information operations so I immediately accepted it as it will help my career growth. It was challenging indeed,” he said.

Under his leadership, Dema-ala sought to establish a “proactive” public affairs office that would effectively curb disinformation, misinformation and fake news in the Army service.

“We do conduct regular assessments and analysis in our fight against disinformation,” he said.

The Army’s public affairs chief also sits as the concurrent spokesperson of the oldest and largest branch of the AFP.

Advocacies vs fake news

Dema-ala acknowledges his crucial role in helping the Philippine Army fulfill its mandate as a “professional, capable and responsive provider of the AFP.”

He believes that this can be attained by effectively addressing misinterpretations and misinformation concerning the service.

“As much as possible, our office should be proactive in resolving such concerns,” he stressed.

Apart from boosting the Army’s public affairs engagements, Dema-ala said his office is also prioritizing the improvement of internal communications within the service.

“Our Army personnel should also gain knowledge so that they would not become victims of disinformation and we don’t want them to also end up propagating fake news,” he added.

“That’s why, part of the Army PAO’s objective is to inform our internal audiences — the Army personnel and if possible, even their immediate relatives.”

Dema-ala called on the public to “trust the Philippine Army.”

“We will try to be dependable for the people,” he said.

Dema-ala pointed out that the public can also contribute to nation-building by always thinking of John F. Kennedy’s famous line: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Mentorship as a leadership style

Dema-ala is a known mentor to younger officers.

He is guiding new breeds of soldiers to create their path to military careers.

“As always has been my mantra: If you need to fulfill something, you should exert your best effort and act upon your best output,” he said.

For his staff, Dema-ala’s leadership style can be characterized by integrity and compassion.

This is as he focuses on the well-being of his troops which has left a lasting impact on those who have served under him.

Dema-ala has long advocated that every soldier serving in the military deserves fair recognition and rewards. He emphasized that each soldier should receive dignified, lasting benefits after their service. “You can truly measure how well you’ve cared for soldiers when you see that their lives have improved beyond what they once were,” Dema-ala said.