Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. graced the 19th Founding Anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), praising the AFP unit for its role in transforming Eastern Mindanao from a hotbed of insurgency to a bastion of peace. Teodoro highlighted Eastmincom's success in neutralizing armed groups and its evolving role in addressing external and hybrid threats. The Davao Region was officially declared insurgency-free, with the military confident that remaining armed groups in nearby regions will be dismantled by year-end.