MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte expressed optimism on Monday that government troops will be able to demolish all communist terrorist groups (CTGs) by the end of his term next year.
Duterte lauded the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their efforts to eradicate the remaining guerilla fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“I would like to thank again the Armed Forces of the Philippines for continuing the dismantling of so many guerilla fronts throughout the country. I’d like to say that it is a job well done and if this continues, the CPP-NPA-NDF will see the truce of death,” he said in his pre-recorded Talk to the People.
“We might be able to hopefully dismantle all by the time I get out of the office,” he added.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles commented on recent government counter-insurgency initiatives, including the destruction of Kilusang Larangan Gerilya (KLG)—Sierra Madre of the New People’s Army (NPA) in San Fernando Pampanga.
“The AFP continues to work of dismantling of other CTGs such the Tarlac-Zambales KLG and the south part committees,” Nograles said.
He stated that the government’s multi-pronged actions under the flagship framework of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) have maintained internal peace, security, stability, and development in Region 3 (Central Luzon).
For the rebel returnees, the government has been conducting the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), which includes financial support, firearm remuneration, and livelihood skills training.
The CPP-NPA-NDF is identified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
