Sense of unity and convergence among members of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Central Luzon, under the able leadership of Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., catapulted the organization to reach greater heights towards achieving its ultimate goal of making the central plains of Luzon free from any harm and degradation emanating from the influence and infiltration of communist terrorist groups (CTGs).
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Relentless focused military operations and continuous conduct of community support program by government instrumentalities in Central Luzon resulted in a series of massive surrender of members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA), and recovery of various war materiel.
Most notable of these surrenders was that of the 77 personalities involved in supporting the NPA who altogether surrendered to the elements of the Philippine Army on November 6, 2019. This particular feat was considered one of the biggest mass surrenders ever to take place in a single day in Central Luzon, and paved the way for more rebels to follow suit. To date, more and more former rebels in the region chose to return to the folds of the government after realizing the useless and pointless cause they were fighting for.
Such a feat was attributed to the full support and cooperation of local government units, national government agencies, and local residents.
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As a primary support to the focused military operations conducted by the Joint Task Force KAUGNAY, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region also continues to conduct major and minor combat operations, and preventive patrol operations to thwart possible enemy atrocities within the region.
The task force’s campaign against insurgency resulted to the reduction of CTGs’ manpower and firearms. Through the efforts of the Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support (PLEDS) Cluster of the task force, the number of CTG supporters were significantly reduced to the force of the enemy.
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In terms of information and security awareness on CTG infiltration, crime prevention and public safety, the task force operationalized an intensified education and awareness advocacy campaign through seminars and lectures, targeting different sectors in the region. In the second semester of 2019 alone [pending 2020 annual report], a total of 13,614 awareness building activities were conducted, reaching 315,232 populace. These were apart from the 115 general orientations on the Executive Order No. 70 [institutionalizing a whole-of-nation approach in obtaining exclusive and sustainable peace as best solution to ending insurgency and terrorism in the country] conducted, reaching 15,237 stakeholders that composed of government executives and employees, school officials and teachers, and youth.
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On critical infrastructure protection and security operations, meanwhile, conduct of target hardening measures and visits on vital installations were continuously done to preempt any sabotage and debilitating impact on national stability. Among these critical infrastructures include the Freeport Area of Bataan in Mariveles, Bataan; New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac; Balog-Balog Multi-Purpose Dam Project II in San Jose, Tarlac; Casecnan Water Energy in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija; and facilities of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
The task force also orchestrated the awarding of necessary assistance and interventions to former rebels and their families to fully integrate them into the mainstream society, through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
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All these accomplishments of the RTF-ELCAC III were achieved owing to the persistent dedication of all its members and other supportive stakeholders who reinforce the realization of good governance, peace and sustainable development in the region.
The task force may have done so much in barely over a year after it was formed and established, but so much still has to be done insofar as achieving its ultimate purpose is concerned —to end local communist armed conflict in the region. The commitment of its members shall remain firm and uncompromising if only to completely create communities that are conflict-resilient, secured and progressive.
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But admittedly, the government cannot do it all alone. The support and cooperation of the whole populace should be integral in this fight. That is the core of the whole-of-nation approach.