RTF-ELCAC 6 Spox :CNT can never defeat government forces

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 11, 2021): RTF-ELCAC 6 Spox :CNT can never defeat government forces (By Jemin B. Guillermo)

ILOILO CITY, May 11 (PIA) – The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Western Visayas calls on the people to trust the government.

This, RTF-ELCAC 6 Spokesperson Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales stressed during the conduct of the Provincial Levelling Sessions which were participated in by the provincial, municipal and barangay task forces ELCAC from the provinces of Antique and Capiz, and Aklan and Guimaras, May 10 and May 11, respectively.

Gonzales highlighted in his synthesis of the discussions during the sessions that “the CPP-NPA Terrorists can never defeat the government forces.”



According to him, the primary issue that has been capitalized by the Communist Terrorist Group is poverty and lack of basic services.

“In response, this government has implemented E.O. 70 or the whole-of-nation approach to counter the CTG problem,” he said.

Gonzales noted that under E.O. 70, conflict-stricken barangays are given priority by the government.

The Barangay Development Program aims to bring the government to the grassroots level; it will bring much needed basic services to far-flung barangays.

He also highlighted the very vital role of the Local Government Unit in ending the communist insurgency by denying the CTG’s mass bases, instead support and encourage CTGs to surrender and provide for their reintegration.

“Ipaabot ang mensahe sang Gobyerno sa mga CPP-NPA nga magbalik na sila sa sabak sang Gobyerno (Send the message of the government to the CPP-NPA to return to the folds of law),” he said.

Gonzales, who also chairs the Western Visayas RTF-ELCAC’s Legal Cooperation Cluster, urges the barangay, city, municipal and provincial task forces to protect their people, to include the Indigenous Peoples and the youth, against the deceptive recruitment and exploitation of the CTGs.

“Declare the CPP-NPA as ‘Persona non Grata’ and withdraw support from them. Support the Barangay Development Plan. Strengthen the family and improve local government presence and basic services,” he urged.

Gonzales also reminded the local government officials present during the session to bring the government to the barangays, focusing on the poorest of the poor.

He said “bring the government projects and basic social services to the communities that have been neglected for so long.”

He added that the efficient delivery of basic services will end the communist insurgency and will render the propaganda of the CPP-NPA Terrorist irrelevant and immaterial.

Gonzales reiterated that "to end this communist insurgency, our communities must stand united against the deception propaganda of the CPP-NPA." (JBG/PIA6)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1074934