FIGHT VS. NPA. Soldiers of the 43rd Infantry Battalion based in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar during a flag ceremony on June 12, 2020. The Philippine Army is upbeat to end the decades-long insurgency problem in some parts of Northern Samar before December 31, 2020 with local officials and communities linking arms to put an end to the armed rebellion. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army 43rd Infantry Battalion)
The Philippine Army is upbeat on ending the decades-long insurgency problem in some parts of Northern Samar before December 31, 2020 with local officials and communities linking arms to put down the armed rebellion.
Lt. Col. Raymundo Picut Jr., commander of the Army 43rd Infantry Battalion (43IB) operating in the first legislative district of Northern Samar, said on Tuesday about 109 New People's Army (NPA) leaders, fighters and supporters have already surrendered to the government from January to the third week of June this year.
The most notable was the mass surrender on June 15 in Bobon town where 71 members of the communist terrorist group and die-hard supporters abandoned the communist terrorist group.
“Through this whole-of-nation approach that crippled the NPA organization, we are confident to end insurgency in our area on or before December 31. We have the support of all 13 mayors who denounced NPA’s act of terrorism by declaring the group as persona non-grata,” Picut said in a phone interview.
Officials from 255 of the more than 300 villages in Northern Samar’s first district also signed a document declaring the NPA persona non grata since last year.
The support in communities has strengthened the barangay (village) intelligence network that contributed to the success of military operations like the discovery of NPA lair and neutralization of notorious NPA leaders.
“People want economic development and they see the government’s anti-insurgency drive as a key to achieve that. They are tired of NPA atrocities,” Picut told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Another boost to the 43IB’s campaign is the manifesto of support of some mayors to the passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
As of Monday, local peace councils of Allen, Lavezares, San Jose, Bobon, and Mondragon towns sent their manifest of support to the proposed law to the Philippine Army.
“To those NPAs who are still in the armed struggle, let’s give peace a chance. Come and lay down your arms and return to the comfort of your families and friends,” Picut added.
The military official estimated that from the over 100 active NPA fighters in Northern Samar’s first district, their number has dwindled to more than 20 this month.
Northern Samar is considered to be the NPA’s stronghold in Eastern Visayas due to poor road network, thick forest, high poverty incidence, and low level of education in upland communities.
The NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
All towns and several villages in Northern Samar formed their local task force communist armed conflict to oversee the provision of an efficient mechanism in addressing the root causes of insurgencies and other armed conflicts through the delivery of basic services and packages by the government.
The formation of the 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.
Patterned after the national and regional task forces, the local body is composed of heads of local offices of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Justice, Defense, Public Works and Highway, Budget, Finance, Agrarian Reform, Social Welfare and Education as well as the military, police, local communication office, and private sector representatives.
At the village level, the task force is composed of members of the barangay peace and order council and community-based organizations.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106738
Lt. Col. Raymundo Picut Jr., commander of the Army 43rd Infantry Battalion (43IB) operating in the first legislative district of Northern Samar, said on Tuesday about 109 New People's Army (NPA) leaders, fighters and supporters have already surrendered to the government from January to the third week of June this year.
The most notable was the mass surrender on June 15 in Bobon town where 71 members of the communist terrorist group and die-hard supporters abandoned the communist terrorist group.
“Through this whole-of-nation approach that crippled the NPA organization, we are confident to end insurgency in our area on or before December 31. We have the support of all 13 mayors who denounced NPA’s act of terrorism by declaring the group as persona non-grata,” Picut said in a phone interview.
Officials from 255 of the more than 300 villages in Northern Samar’s first district also signed a document declaring the NPA persona non grata since last year.
The support in communities has strengthened the barangay (village) intelligence network that contributed to the success of military operations like the discovery of NPA lair and neutralization of notorious NPA leaders.
“People want economic development and they see the government’s anti-insurgency drive as a key to achieve that. They are tired of NPA atrocities,” Picut told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Another boost to the 43IB’s campaign is the manifesto of support of some mayors to the passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
As of Monday, local peace councils of Allen, Lavezares, San Jose, Bobon, and Mondragon towns sent their manifest of support to the proposed law to the Philippine Army.
“To those NPAs who are still in the armed struggle, let’s give peace a chance. Come and lay down your arms and return to the comfort of your families and friends,” Picut added.
The military official estimated that from the over 100 active NPA fighters in Northern Samar’s first district, their number has dwindled to more than 20 this month.
Northern Samar is considered to be the NPA’s stronghold in Eastern Visayas due to poor road network, thick forest, high poverty incidence, and low level of education in upland communities.
The NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
All towns and several villages in Northern Samar formed their local task force communist armed conflict to oversee the provision of an efficient mechanism in addressing the root causes of insurgencies and other armed conflicts through the delivery of basic services and packages by the government.
The formation of the 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.
Patterned after the national and regional task forces, the local body is composed of heads of local offices of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Justice, Defense, Public Works and Highway, Budget, Finance, Agrarian Reform, Social Welfare and Education as well as the military, police, local communication office, and private sector representatives.
At the village level, the task force is composed of members of the barangay peace and order council and community-based organizations.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1106738
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