NTF-ELCAC to remaining Reds: Give up lost cause, rejoin society

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 18, 2024): NTF-ELCAC to remaining Reds: Give up lost cause, rejoin society (By Priam Nepomuceno)

MANILA – The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday reiterated its appeal to all remnants of the New People's Army (NPA) to peacefully surrender and rejoin their families rather than sacrifice their lives for a lost cause.

"Rather than sacrificing your lives for a lost cause and obsolete ideology, lay down your arms, surrender peacefully, avail the government’s amnesty and other related reintegration programs, and return to mainstream society as productive and law-abiding citizens," the task force said in a social media post.

During the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Command Conference last Jan. 15, the military said there remained only 11 weakened NPA guerilla fronts and "a little over 1,500" insurgent fighters nationwide.

The AFP also expressed hope that they will be able to defeat the remaining insurgents within the year.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. also urged the remaining 1,500 NPA remnants to lay down their arms and avail of the government's amnesty and integration programs.

"Surrender peacefully, and avail the government's amnesty program and other related programs for their complete reintegration into mainstream society," he added.

Torres also urged all remaining NPA insurgents, interested in surrendering, to communicate to local peace engagement councils and the municipal and provincial affiliates of the NTF-ELCAC.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1217156