DAVAO DEL NORTE, 17 January (PIA) --- The National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict has to be institutionalized into law for the next national administration to adopt it and sustain the delivery of services to communities.
Police General Filmore Escobal of Regional Police Office XI pitched this call for concrete policy support of the next administration to uphold the principle of “good governance” that has been noted to have paved the way for programs and services of the government to reach far-flung communities.
“So very clear ang mensahe ng ating mga kapatid na itong conflict na ‘to will be ended by good governance, by delivering the needs of communities,” he said in the press conference this morning that was hooked with Tagged: Debunking Lies, Telling the Truth nationally aired through Sonshine Media Network Inc (SMNI) and livestreamed through the Facebook pages of the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the Philippine Information Agency.
Escobal noted the revelation of former New Peoples Army (NPA) commanders and front committee officials who said that they substantially lost mass base support as they had left their allegiance to the communist movement and eventually sought government assistance.
“From the responses of our FRs it is very clear that what they saw in the communities na dumating ang services ng ating gobyerno; dumating ang tulong, ang development, and secondary lang ang effort na pag-surender dahil wala na silang masa. And the reason why wala na silang masa dahil ang services of government have reached the communities,” Escobal said.
On the same occasion, Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib pointed out the need to provide substantial budget in rolling out Executive Order No. 70 issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to end the more than 50-year Philippine communist insurgency.
Jubahib also wanted to see satisfaction in addressing community issues rooted on poverty and absence of means of livelihood.
“Kailangan din ang mga former rebels magkakaroon ng sapat na supporta para sa kanilang pangkabuhayan, pati na ang mga communities na nangangailangan ng livelihood; dahil sa kahirapan, marami ang na-recruit ng mga NPA. (There should be enough livelihood support for former rebels and even those communities needing livelihood opportunities; due to deprivation some were recruited by the NPAs),” Jubahib said noting that recruits of NPAs joined the insurgency movement hoping to find relief of their dissatisfaction with the government, but only to find frustration driving them to go back to the folds of the law.
On the other hand, 10th Infantry “Agila” Division commander Major General Ernesto C. Torres pegged his call for policy support from the next administration on focus for development of geographically isolated and depressed areas (GIDAs) especially those which have yet to experience and benefit from government services.
He also pointed out the need to formulate programs that would serve as vehicles for local and national governments to deliver the needed projects and services as promised to them.
“Para matuloy-tuloy again yong (so as to continue the) redemption, rehabilitation and re-integration back to the mainstream. Those two things for me are essential policy support we need from the next admin,” General Torres said.
For his part, Lt General Greg Almerol commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) was hopeful that the next administration would become supportive of the program on ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) having seen the substantial outcome through the whole of nation approach strategy of converging services to reach and serve NPA influenced areas. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)
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