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Friday, July 07, 2006
PNP intelligence ‘to help campaign’
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga welcomes the active role the Philippine National Police will take in the fight against the country’s 37-year-old insurgency problem.
Senga, who visited the Central Command yesterday, said officials from Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo were holding discussions on which areas the PNP can take an active role in.
Senga believes the PNP’s capabilities in intelligence, combat training and legal efforts will be a big help in their campaign. He said he is also open to talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), as long they are sincere in their efforts.
He said the communists often used the peace talks to gain ground until they are strong enough to attack again. “It’s always a possibility. We can always talk. However, there must be sincerity on both sides,” Senga told reporters.
2 years
Asked if the President’s goal of wiping out the insurgency in two years is doable, Senga said it is, as long as there’s support from the community.
“Insurgency is the problem of the whole country. It’s not just a military problem,” he said.
He said that side from combat, the delivery of basic services is necessary.
For his part, Lt. Col. Jefferson Omandam said that Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s plans to field Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) members in Cebu can be a model to other provinces.
Omandam said fielding Cafgu members was a good idea because the military lacked territorial forces to cover the entire province.
Omandam said the priority area would be in Cebu’s mid-north, where there have been rebel sightings.
Safeguards
So as not to repeat the mistakes they made in fielding “abusive” Cafgu members, Omandam said attention should be given to the selection process.
In the past, Cafgu members were selected because they were close to mayors and barangay officials.
This time, Omandam said that criteria, such as literacy and psychiatric health, should be considered.
Omandam said Central Command will serve as the technical adviser for the Provincial Cafgu and will conduct the basic training for them.
Aside from combat, Cafgu members will also be trained in effective communication and “other subjects that will enhance their social well-being.” (MEA )
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 7, 2006 issue)
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