MANILA, Philippines – SINABI ni National Security Adviser Eduardo Año na malapit nang matuldukan ang five-decade-old communist insurgency menace sa Pilipinas.
Ito ayon kay Año ay dahil sa pagsisikap ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ni Año na ang ‘whole of nation approach’ sa pagtugon sa insurgency ay napatunayang epektibo dahil napagsama-sama nito ang pagsisikap ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, uniformed personnel at civilian public servants na makamit ang “inclusive and sustainable peace”.
Idagdag pa rito, sinabi ni Año na nag-alok ang NTF-ELCAC ng “lifeline of restoration” para sa mga rebel returnees at surrenderers na nais na makasama ang kani-kanilang pamilya at mahal sa buhay at makabalik sa lipunan.
“In the past, these rebels knew only of pain, hatred, and despair, deceived by a God-less foreign ideology. Today, by working with various NTF-ELCAC clusters, thousands of former rebels have found relief, compassion and hope for a better future,” ang winika ni Año.
Sa pamamagitan ng mga programa gaya ng Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) at Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), sinabi nito na ang mga rebelde na minsan nang nawala sa landas ay tinatahak na ang daan patungong kapayapaan.
“Along the way, the former insurgents received compassionate support that helps them rebuild and enjoy happy, safe, and productive lives,” ayon sa ulat.
“The Task Force also paves the way for the implementation of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) which also shows that sustainable, inclusive peace is attainable if government services and real development is brought to where it matters most,”ayon naman kay Año.
Sinabi ni Año na ang malalayong barangay at malalayong sitio na minsan nang naging kulang sa serbisyo ay nararamdaman na ngayon ang benepisyo mula sa malawak na programa at serbisyo ng gobyerno.
Binigyang-diin nito na dedma lamang ang mga “naysayers and pundits who will always oppose no matter how good the program is” sa gobyerno.
Samantala, pinasalamatan naman ni Año si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa pagsasapubliko na hindi nito bubuwagin ang NTF-ELCAC.
“We express our thanks to our Chairman, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his full support and strong vote of confidence for NTF-ELCAC. The President was loud and clear in saying that he will never abolish NTF-ELCAC. Under his leadership, the Task Force will press on until it accomplishes the mission of winning the peace for our people,” ang litaniya ni Año. Kris Jose
