MANILA — “The so-called protracted war must end. And it must end now.”
This was Vice President Sara Duterte’s call during the 1st National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Execom Meeting at the Malacañan Palace here on Wednesday.
Duterte, in her message during the meeting, lauded members of NTF-ELCAC for their commitment to ending local communist armed conflict in the country.
During the meeting, Duterte was chosen as Co-Vice Chairperson of NTF-ELCAC.
“This is a show of force — a clear, strong, and powerful statement and warning — against the enemies of the state who slaughter civilians and Indigenous Peoples, abduct and murder and execute members of our security forces, and attempt to pin down our progress as a nation through their ideals anchored on brainwashing, fear, and terrorism,” Duterte said.
“We cannot let these things continue,” she added.
Under Executive Order (EO) 70, the NTF-ELCAC was organized by the government to respond and raise awareness of the ongoing atrocities perpetrated by communist terrorists New People’s Army.
EO 70 was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte on December 4, 2018.
The Vice President, who is also the Secretary of Education, shared her realizations on how deeply the Philippines is “ingrained with the problem of insurgency” with the recruitment of Filipino students to communist groups.
“They have infiltrated our institutions and sectors, and remained a serious threat to the well-being of the Filipino People, particularly our youth. However, the enemies are also using the same as a driver in propagating their violent ideology and systematically recruiting Filipino students,” Duterte said.
“We cannot let them continue preying on the innocence and idealistic nature of the Filipino youth,” she added.
Despite the diminishing number of communist groups, Duterte reminded everyone not to be complacent in the efforts of ending local communist armed conflicts as failing to do so will “cause more suffering to the Filipino People — and their victory means the fall of the nation.”
She then lauded the NTF-ELEAC for its vigilance and proactiveness in orchestrating responsive measures to repress the State’s enemy.
“We shall take advantage of strength, derived from unity and good governance, as we promote sustainable peace and development for every Filipino to enjoy,” Duterte said.
“Sama-sama nating buohin ang isang bansang MATATAG: Kabataang Makabansa at Bansang Makabata,” she added.
OVP MEDIA