COMMITMENT VS. INSURGENCY. Officials of the provincial government and agencies, led by (from left to right) DILG provincial director Ofelio A. Tactac, Governor Gerardo Noveras, Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, Executive Officer of 703rd Brigade, and Col. Engelbert Z. Soriano, provincial director of Aurora Police Provincial Office, sign the joint implementing plan of the peace, development peace, law enforcement and development support (PLEDS) cluster in Aurora to solve the decades-old insurgency problem. The signing was held at the AMCO Beach Resort in Barangay Sabang, Baler, Aurora on Thursday (Sept. 12). (Photo by Jason de Asis)
BALER, Aurora -- Officials and representatives of different government agencies, local government units (LGUs) and various sectors in this province have expressed their strong commitment to solve the decades-long insurgency problem in the country.
Through the activation of the peace, law enforcement and development support (PLEDS) cluster here, they signed Thursday a joint implementing plan that will support the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) during a ceremony held at AMCO beach resort, Barangay Sabang.
The PTF-ELCAC is the localized counterpart of the National Task Force ELCAC, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s issuance of Executive Order No. 70, to attain inclusive and sustainable peace via a whole-of-nation approach.
Lt. Col. Jose Mari F. Torrenueva, commander of the Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, said the joint implementing plan is one of the 12 clusters of the PTF-ELCAC, wherein the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) take the lead role.
"Aurora province is the first province to activate and implement the provincial ELCAC within Central Luzon. We are very much thankful to the support of Governor Gerardo Noveras,” Torrenueva said.
“To our guests and heads of different agencies, we are thankful for your presence. Again, I welcome and encourage everyone to take a step to achieve peace in the province of Aurora,” he said.
DILG provincial director Ofelio A. Tactac also commended the people of the province for being the first in Central Luzon to organize its own provincial task force to end the conflict with the communists.
“The insurgent words 'digmaan sagot sa kahirapan' (war is the answer to poverty) is barbaric and sowing terror to the community. It is not appropriate in the community. Help us convince communist rebels that armed conflict is not the solution to the country’s problems,” Tactac said.
He also said that since the creation of the NTF ELCAC, there is a sudden change from a military-based approach to civilian-led approach in countering insurgency.
Col. Engelbert Z. Soriano, provincial director of Aurora Police Provincial Office, said the PNP, in all fronts, is doing its best to fulfill the realization of the dream-- to rid the country of the insurgency problem.
“As much as possible, we focus our efforts on winning the hearts and minds of the communist insurgents to return to peaceful and lawful living and enjoy the God’s gift of normal family life,” Soriano said.
He vowed support to the Aurora PLEDS cluster and all other activities geared towards the attainment of the vision of the President through EO 70.
NBI agent Pedro C. Roque Jr., meanwhile, said they are one in the efforts to end the insurgency problem.
On the other hand, Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, Executive Officer of 703rd Brigade, said the PTF ELCAC is capable of solving local issues associated with insurgency in Aurora now that the provincial task force is in full gear.
“This activity is a manifestation that we are hitting President’s Duterte’s goal to end insurgency in this province. We are in full support to this endeavor,” he said.
Governor Gerardo A. Noveras also manifested his full support to the activity for the benefit of future generations.
“The provincial government of Aurora is supporting the lasting peace and progress in this province,” he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1080429
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