The head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Operations, Major Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, on Monday assured Filipinos that “decisive victory against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is already at hand.”
At the weekly virtual press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Sermonia said that the PNP, along with all the government agencies implementing the whole-of-nation approach, can end the more than five-decade insurgency of the CPP NPA-NDF by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term onJune 30, 2022.
“After five decades, this is the only administration that is able to provide a holistic solution to insurgency problem. In recent years, we have seen the manifestation of victories, like yung passage ng anti-terror bill and the designation of CPP NPA as terrorist organization, and the enactment of Executive Order 70 that created NTF-ELCAC at marami pa pong ibang mga programa para finally we can end this local communist armed conflict,” Sermonia said.
Sermonia pointed out that victory over the CPP-NPA-NDF will not be possible without the President’s wisdom in providing insightful solution to the Communist Terrorist Group problem.
He added that the creation of NTF-ELCAC, one of the most important legacies of President Duterte, made it easier for the police to join hands with the Filipino people in “weakening and crippling the lines” of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the far-flung areas through “massive police-community relations.”
“Halos abot-kamay na ang ating decisive victory. Marami na ang naniniwala sa programa ng ating pamahalaan. Kaya marami na rin ang sumusuko sa kanila (A decisive victory is close. Many members of these groups now belive in the govnerment’s programs and many are now surrendering),” Sermonia said.
He also said that through the legal offensives of the Duterte Administration, such as the Anti-Terror Law, the CTGs have suffered major blows to their financial capabilities.
“We unmasked their infiltrators, sino ang mga cadre, through our mobilization of a coalition against their front organizations,” he further explained referring to the “relentless implementation of the
Barangay Development Program (BDP) and the creation of the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers.
This global coalition provides proactive leadership, direction, and guidance to all government and multisectoral efforts to build strong collaborative partnership with the community in support of the ongoing campaign against communist insurgency, illegal drugs, extremist terrorism, and disaster mitigation.
Sermonia said 70 percent are white areas or the “kapatagan” which means the CPP-NPA-NDF is carrying their war through the metropolis using their front organizations while the 30 percent is through the armed struggle in the mountains.
However, Sermonia explained that in both fields, the government is winning by weakening the presence of the CTGs in the communities by synchronizing all efforts of government agencies and real people’s organizations, plus the support of our countrymen.
What is just needed this time, Sermonia said is a “strong finish” to feel the real “decisive victory” of President Duterte’s legacy to the country.
