Decreasing CTGs since start of government’s ELCAC

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 2, 2021): Decreasing CTGs since start of government’s ELCAC (By Frances Mae Macapagat)

DAVAO CITY (PIA) – Dismantling four guerilla fronts since 2018 and clearing 53 conflict-affected barangays from 80 recorded barangays in 2018 are considered the proof of a weakened communist terror group (CTG) in the region and was attributed to the strengthened whole of nation approach thru the Executive Order 70 or Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

Some of the dismantled guerilla fronts are Guerilla Front 33 in Davao del Norte – Davao de Oro, Guerilla Front 56 in Bukidnon-Davao, and Guerilla Front Tala operating in Davao Occidental and Sarangani.

Besides winning the war thru combat operations, the 10th Infantry Division thru Assistant Chief of Staff of the Civil Military Operations Lt. Col. Louie Dema-ala bared in an interview over One Davao Virtual Virtual Presser that much of the efforts now of the military group is focused on community support programs.

“ Aside from the red area or where the CTGs are usually situated, we also focus on the white area. There is a symbiotic relationship between the red and the white areas. Ang white area ang nagbibigay ng financial support para sa mga CTGs na nasa red area. Dito rin sa white ginagawa ang pagrerecruit para sumali sa armadong grupo, (The white area gives financial support to the CTGs in the red area, in the white areas, recruitments are made for the armed group),” Dema-ala explained.

He cited some gains of the military in weakening the CTG’s strength in the white area along with the initiative and support of the Regional and Provincial Task Force ELCAC.

The closing of Salugpungan schools across Davao Region was considered a major win for the uniformed men.

Aside from the Salugpungan schools, the issuance of a freeze order by the Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on united Church of Christ in the Philippines - Haran (UCCP- Haran) bank accounts was also a significant gain in the insurgency war.

The 10th Infantry Division reported to have organized 443 People’s Organizations (POs) composed of Underground Mass Organization (UGMOs) member.

Dema-ala explained that there is a need to sustain government’s efforts in engaging UGMO members by providing skills trainings and livelihood opportunities.

Common trainings provided to the UGMO members were vegetable production, native chicken production, goat raising, cacao processing, banans chip production, rural entrepreneurship and feed formulation.

Another program which forms part in the 12 line clusters of the ELCAC is the E-CLIP or the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program.

The E-CLIP enables the different agencies and local government units to directly pour in projects in support to the E-CLIP.

“ Binibigyan natin ang amg former rebels hindi lang ng pera pati na rin ang training. Tinuturuan natin sila kung paano nila palalaguin yung binigay na pera mula sa pagsurrender nila ng baril at bala (We give former rebel not just cash but also training, we teach them how to grow the money given to them when they surrendered their guns and bullets),” Dema-ala added. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1076973