LIEUTENANT General Benedict M Arevalo PA, the Commander of the Visayas Command (VISCOM) expressed that much of what they have accomplished in the campaign against the CPP-NPA in the Visayas region is attributed to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“The Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict does wonders in our efforts to end the local communist armed conflict in the Visayas region. Much of what we have accomplished is attributed to the Task Force through its peace dialogue mechanism, community development initiatives, and local government empowerment endeavors,” Lt Gen Arevalo emphasized.
The statement was made following the conduct of the VISCOM Campaign Briefing to all its subordinate units in the Visayas. The engagement aims to apprise all Commanders of the AFP units in the Visayas region on the adjustments of VISCOM’s campaign against the CPP-NPA as well as the current thrust and programs of VISCOM which will serve as the basis and reference of these units in the conduct of internal security operations.
During the said engagement, it was presented that through the localized peace dialogue mechanism of NTF ELCAC, a total of 218 former NPA terrorists were successfully negotiated to return to the folds of the law last year. They yielded a total of 196 firearms. As for this year, already a total of 14 NPA terrorists have returned to the folds of the law and yielded eight firearms through the said mechanism.
Those who returned to the folds of the law last year have already been enrolled to the Enhanced Comprehensive Localized Integration Program (ECLIP) of the Task Force for their smooth transition as they were reintegrated into mainstream society. Meanwhile, for those who returned to the folds of the law this year, their applications are now being processed.
It was also presented that through the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of NTF ELCAC, a total of 562 community development projects in the former NPA-infested communities in the entire Visayas region have already been completed, as of to date. The completion of these projects led to the permanent closure and complete resolution of the issues being exploited by the CPP-NPA to recruit and deceive the people to go against the government. This also resulted in the collapse of the NPA political structure in these communities which facilitated their clearing from NPA-infestation.
Based on the data presented, as of to date, all NPA-infested communities in the Visayas region have already been cleared and the community engagement efforts of the AFP are now geared towards preventing the resurgence of the CPP-NPA in the region.
Likewise, it was also presented that a total of 9,215 Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Visayas region, from the provincial down to the barangays have already denounced the CPP-NPA and declared the terrorist group ‘persona non grata’. This is attributed to the local government’s empowerment efforts of the NTF ELCAC. These LGUs have been active in supporting the campaign of VISCOM against CPP-NPA and are committed to sustaining the gains of the government to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group in their respective localities.
Lt Gen Arevalo added, “Our people did not turn a blind eye to our efforts and sacrifices. As a matter of fact, they recognized and openly expressed their satisfaction to our efforts with the NTF ELCAC. This is the first time a satisfaction survey was conducted for the AFP, where we achieved the highest satisfaction rating in the Visayas. It is usually in Mindanao. This is a clear manifestation of the gratitude and appreciation of our people.”
It can be recalled that on November last year, OCTA Research Group published the result of the Satisfaction Survey they conducted where the AFP gathered a Net Satisfaction Rating of 85%. Across the areas where the survey was conducted, it was in the Visayas where the highest satisfaction rating was achieved, where 93% of the respondents answered that they were satisfied, followed by Mindanao with 91%, then Luzon with 83% and Metro Manila with 70%.
Lt Gen Arevalo concluded as he urged the Commanders of the subordinate units to never waver in their efforts to end the local communist armed conflict in the Visayas region, “May the voice of our people be a driving force for us to never waver in our efforts to pursue the remnants of the CPP-NPA. With the continued support and intervention of NTF ELCAC, let us do more and accomplish more for the attainment of lasting peace and stability in the Visayas region and for our people whom we have sworn to serve and protect.”
