KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Operations of the Communist Terrorist Group, New People’s Army (NPA) in the province continues to weaken, according to the Philippine Army’s 11th Special Forces Company (SFC).
In an interview with Philippine Information Agency, Cpt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, commanding officer of the 11th SFC said this is mainly because of the implementation of the EO 70's whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict.
“Malaking bagay talaga ang EO 70 and NTF-ELCAC implementation dito sa area ng South Cotabato dahil kung mapapansin po ninyo halos wala na tayong nababalitaan na NPA initiated violent activity,” Punsalan said.
According to Punsalan, some 15 NPA rebels from Guerilla Front Musa (GF 73) Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) already surrendered to military authorities in their area of responsibility since October last year.
He said, by going back to the fold of the government, these former rebels received financial and livelihood assistance from the national and local government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP.
Meanwhile, the army official hopes that the programs and reforms initiated by President Duterte, specifically those under EO 70 will be continued by the next administration.
“With the gains of the outgoing administration, we hope that our next administration and newly-elected local chief executives will sustain and continue this program for us to fully dismantle the guerilla front operating in our area,” he added.
He also assured that the Philippine Army will continue to intensify its focused military operations to encourage more NPA rebels to return to the government.
“We are conducting community support program for identified conflict affected barangays identified by our higher headquarters and already conducted different activities to prevent further recruitment of CTGs in our area,” he said.
The 11th SF Company is under the 5th Special Forces Battalion operating in the municipalities of Banga and Tboli, South Cotabato.
Recently, the 11th SF Company, in partnership with LGU Tboli organized the 1st Tboli Inter-Cultural Youth Leadership Summit which aimed to transform the youth into “peacebuilders” and “catalysts for development” while also enhancing their awareness to protect themselves from deceptions and recruitment by the NPA and other lawless elements. (ORVR/PIA XII)
