Friday, November 24, 2006 Arroyo orders local gov'ts, police to work v. insurgency By Reynaldo G. Navales
CLARK ECOZONE -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the local government units (LGUs) to work with the police so it could effectively implement its anti-insurgency campaign.
The President issued the directive during the First National Forum on National Security and Counter-Insurgency held in Clark Special Economic Zone on Thursday.
The National Government's campaign covers directly combating insurgents and providing social services to former rebels and strife-torn communities.
Since poverty breeds unrest, President Arroyo said the Cabinet social and economic clusters will meet next week to discuss how the government can further improve its efforts of securing short- and long-term benefits for the people.
In July 2006, the President issued Executive Order (EO) 546 institutionalizing the anti-insurgency campaign since terrorist activities are stifling government's efforts to move the country forward.
Under the order, the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is tasked to promote public safety and progress nationwide by jointly suppressing insurgency and other forms of national security threats.
"The LGU-PNP partnership is perfect as this will be the key to our success," Arroyo said.
The Arroyo administration previously noted that local officials and the police can best monitor developments in their areas of jurisdiction since they are in direct contact with the people everyday.
Bantay Bayan members are also enjoined to assist the police in implementing their respective community-based public safety plans.
The President clarified, however, that deputizing these patrollers will depend on the approval by the local chief executives.
To help ensure active LGU participation in the campaign, Arroyo ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to secure and institutionalize funding for such purpose.
The Chief Executive lauded local executives for participating in the forum as she said better coordination within government is needed to boost national security. "We can't take lightly the fact that terrorists enjoy foreign funding so we must have concerted efforts," she said.
