Lt. Col Ronaldo Valdez, commanding officer of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion. (File photo courtesy of the 73IB)
The recruitment activities of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in parts of Sarangani province have slowed down in recent months as more communities embraced the government’s efforts to end the communist rebellion, a military official said.
Lt. Col. Ronaldo Valdez, commanding officer of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion (IB), said Tuesday the majority of the upland barangays in the municipalities of Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan, and Glan are now considered freed from NPA influence--its officials now cooperating with government authorities.
Valdez attributed the accomplishment to the convergence initiatives of the provincial task force to end the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC), which includes the 73IB.
The task force, created through President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70, mandates local government units and government agencies to address insurgency through the delivery of various services under the “whole-of-nation” approach.
“These initiatives have been gaining ground in Sarangani and we’re already seeing its impact in our communities,’ Valdez said in an interview with reporters.
Valdez said the task force has been continually reaching out to communities in the uplands areas of the province and ensuring that government programs and services will reach them.
Among the major initiatives already implemented were construction and upgrading of farm-to-market as well as vital access roads in the province, he said.
The army official said they conducted information and education campaigns to counter the recruitment activities of the NPA rebels, especially among students and indigenous peoples.
He said the provincial government of Sarangani, through Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon, has been complementing these efforts by delivering sustainable livelihood programs to the remote communities.
Citing their intelligence monitoring, he said the dwindling support from community stakeholders has “weakened” the operations of local NPA units.
He said the situation has convinced a number of NPA combatants to surrender and avail of the government’s reintegration program.
Since the second week of January, the 73IB reported that a total of 30 rebels already surrendered in Sarangani province.
“I’m calling on the remaining active rebels to surrender so they can lead normal lives with their families,” he said.
Valdez assured that the surrenderers will receive livelihood assistance and other interventions from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1095388
Lt. Col. Ronaldo Valdez, commanding officer of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion (IB), said Tuesday the majority of the upland barangays in the municipalities of Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan, and Glan are now considered freed from NPA influence--its officials now cooperating with government authorities.
Valdez attributed the accomplishment to the convergence initiatives of the provincial task force to end the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC), which includes the 73IB.
The task force, created through President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70, mandates local government units and government agencies to address insurgency through the delivery of various services under the “whole-of-nation” approach.
“These initiatives have been gaining ground in Sarangani and we’re already seeing its impact in our communities,’ Valdez said in an interview with reporters.
Valdez said the task force has been continually reaching out to communities in the uplands areas of the province and ensuring that government programs and services will reach them.
Among the major initiatives already implemented were construction and upgrading of farm-to-market as well as vital access roads in the province, he said.
The army official said they conducted information and education campaigns to counter the recruitment activities of the NPA rebels, especially among students and indigenous peoples.
He said the provincial government of Sarangani, through Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon, has been complementing these efforts by delivering sustainable livelihood programs to the remote communities.
Citing their intelligence monitoring, he said the dwindling support from community stakeholders has “weakened” the operations of local NPA units.
He said the situation has convinced a number of NPA combatants to surrender and avail of the government’s reintegration program.
Since the second week of January, the 73IB reported that a total of 30 rebels already surrendered in Sarangani province.
“I’m calling on the remaining active rebels to surrender so they can lead normal lives with their families,” he said.
Valdez assured that the surrenderers will receive livelihood assistance and other interventions from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1095388
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