Army appeals for public support on anti-insurgency campaign

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 5): Army appeals for public support on anti-insurgency campaign

The Philippine Army is calling for the cooperation of the public on its anti-insurgency campaign in view of the ongoing recruitment activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Western Visayas.

“Their recruitment is constant that is why we are appealing for the help of the civilians in the communities because the Army cannot do it alone through military solutions,” Captain Eduardo Precioso Jr., public information officer of the Army's 301st Infantry Brigade (3rd Infantry Division) based in Dingle, Iloilo, said in a press conference Tuesday.

Precioso said the NPA recruitment process is very simple -- emphasizing negative issues about the government, particularly about its alleged failure to uplift people from poverty.

These newly-recruit civilians will then be organized and will go to cities to conduct rallies for exposure and go to the mountainous areas for mobilization.

Precioso also appealed to local government units to help resolve the insurgency problem that the region has been experiencing for the past 40 to 50 years.

“There is the need for the civilians and the LGUs to take part because the issues on insurgency is more on community,” he said.

“We are appealing to the community to bring their problems to concerned government agency so that the government could address them,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1008642