The Western Visayas Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF6-ELCAC) has called on remnants of the Communist Party of the -Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in Panay to lay down their arms, return to their families, and live in peace.
Lawyer Flosemer Chris Gonzales, spokesperson of the RTF6-ELCAC, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the rebels’ days are numbered and they can never win in their attempt to overthrow the government.
“The government will subdue and neutralize the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorist organization with overwhelming force,” he said.
The statement was issued following a successful operation by the 301st Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA) that led to the death of nine terrorists under the Southern Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Barangay Alimodias in Miagao, Iloilo on December 1.
In the statement, the task force commended the Philippine National Police (PNP), local government units, barangay officials, and people in the community for their support to the successful operation.
As condolences and prayers were extended to families of those who died, the task force also joined families condemning the Communist-NPA-Terrorists (CNTs) that recruited their minor children.
Two of those identified deaths were only 17 years old when recruited to the movement based on testimonies of their respective families.
Meanwhile, the task force called out those who criticized the military operations that they were not in the position to tell the Armed Forces of the Philippines on how they will fight the war against terror.
“On the Miagao encounter on December 1, 2021, this is one thing certain, the ground commanders ensured that no lives will be lost among their troops, hence, they used all available resources to ensure a tactical victory with zero losses among their men. For those who cannot accept this fact, you must realize by now that armed struggle against the government is hopeless, futile, and quixotic,” he said.
He added that the national task force ELCAC will also be at the forefront of the whole-of-the-nation approach to address the root cause of the insurgency.
“Our reliance on good governance by bringing much needed infrastructure and basic services to geographically isolated and then conflict-stricken barangays will break the backbone of the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorist organization,” he said.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.
Source: Philippines News Agency
