DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año reiterated on Saturday, September 29, the need for a “whole-government approach” in order to address the country’s problem on insurgency in the light of the “nipping” recruitment of the communist rebels.
Año said he is in support to the creation of the Anti-Communist Task Force as proposed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to quell the socio-politico-economic problems that threaten the stability of the country.
“Insurgency is rooted in poverty, inequality, and grievances that could be addressed by respective mandates of various government institutions. We have all the mechanisms to face these issues but all government agencies have to perform our roles in a concerted manner,” he said.
"In fact we are winning the battle in the mountains. There are so many surrenderers now. It's in the propaganda war and parliamentary battle that we are loosing. The National Task Force will ensure that other government agencies help the DND and DILG in this effort," he added.
Earlier, AFP chief-of staff Carlito Galvez Jr. revealed having discovered an ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte which was expected to culminate on October.
The plot was reportedly architected by a coalition led by leftist leaders Rey Casambre and Satur Ocampo while other members includes the critics of the administration, such as former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and some members of the Liberal party.
Galvez said the coalition is doing an economic sabotage as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) are infiltrating labor organization of different companies and encourage them to conduct strike for not receiving the right compensation which may later on lead to the closure of the company.
Año said that not only the government agencies should take part in the proposed task force as the civilian agencies and other stakeholders must be aware of in the whole-of-government strategy of quashing communist recruitment noting that communist insurgency is not primarily a military or police problem but a “governance problem.”
“Civilian government agencies must be aware of the real situation and fulfill their mandates so as to prevent build-up of public grievances that communist terrorist rebels exploit to stir anti-government sentiments such as corruption, price hikes, and labor sector and Indigenous Peoples concerns,” he said.
“Communists are using as propaganda the inefficacies of government to advance their aspiration of toppling democracy. Thus all instrumentalities of the government have to recognize their role in addressing this urgent and long standing problem,” he added.
Año, however, assures that the DILG is instilling good governance among local government units who are at the forefront of public service delivery.
He also says there is no need for a loyalty check among the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) “whose allegiance is to the Constitution and the people.”
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde also assures that police personnel are staying loyal to the administration and that there is no reason or motivation to go against the government.
“Wala (recruited cops for Red October). Probably ‘yung mga retired. I don't know I cannot speak for them but as far as the police service is concerned sa amin wala kaming alam na kung sino marecruit lalo na recruitment. Pwede siguro symphatize pero recruitment zero kami dyan,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)