Saturday, June 8, 2019

Task force to be created to fight insurgency in Leyte

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 8, 2019): Task force to be created to fight insurgency in Leyte


LIVELIHOOD PROJECT. Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla (center) visits a community in Merida, Leyte, identified as beneficiary of livelihood project of the local government. Leyte’s provincial government is in the process of creating a local task force to come up with mechanisms to completely wipe out insurgency in the province, Petilla said on Friday (June 7, 2019). (Photo courtesy of Leyte provincial government) 

TACLOBAN CITY -- Leyte’s provincial government is in the process of creating a local task force to come up with mechanisms to completely wipe out insurgency in the province.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said on Friday that they are preparing documents for the creation of the task force and are looking into legal considerations before issuing a local executive order.

The formation of the new task force operationalizes Executive Order 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 4, 2018. The directive also institutionalizes a “whole-of-nation approach” in attaining an “inclusive and sustainable peace.”

“The task force will not just focus on conflict-stricken areas, but also communities vulnerable to insurgency as well. If an area has a high poverty rate, it should be a concern of the local peace and order council. If people are impoverished, they blame the government and sometimes support the New People’s Army (NPA),” Petilla told reporters.

The governor said efforts to eradicate poverty will be linked with existing livelihood projects of the local government that have reached nearly 300 farmers’ organizations in poor communities.

Patterned after the national task force, the local body will be composed of heads of local offices of the departments of the interior and local government, justice, defense, public works, budget, finance, agrarian reform, social welfare, and education, as well as the military, police and local communication office.

Also listed as members are regional or provincial heads of the National Economic and Development Authority, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, as well as two representatives of the private sector.

The task force is expected to formulate and start implementing a peace framework. It will also evaluate, modify or integrate policies, programs, and activities contained in the framework.

Intensified operations against the NPA have weakened the communist terrorist organization in Leyte this year, the military reported on Thursday.

Despite the absence of violent activities, government forces have stepped up their operations as the enemy is expected to continue recovery efforts on former guerrilla zones and bases in Leyte Island.

The NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is considered as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1071826

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