Partido Reporma standard-bearer Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday called on all Filipinos to unite in ending the more than five decades of communist insurgency in the country.
The presidential aspirant made this appeal as he visited Isabela, where the New People’s Army was born in Jones town in 1969.
“I believe the Philippines deserves a better peace and order and prosperity. We should unite so there will be peace and prosperity in our country and we can live better lives,” Lacson said at the flag-raising ceremony in Cauayan, Isabela.
He said the country needs a strong leader who has a vision and the ability to implement peace and order.
Lacson said during the five decades of insurgency, more than 2,000 people have been killed while billions of pesos had been lost to the NPAs who collect revolutionary taxes and burn the equipment of businessmen who do not cooperate.
He pointed out President Rodrigo Duterte himself cited intelligence information indicating the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA may have “infiltrated” the campaigns of some camps.
“We noticed that when those in the CPP-NPA join the government, the NPA’s weapons become more powerful,” he added.
Lacson said the people can no longer allow the CPP-NPA to enter into a “coalition” with the government.
In his speech, Lacson also recalled his stint in Isabela in 1988 as then provincial commander of the Philippine Constabulary.
He said he stopped the NPA’s practice of conducting checkpoints there and enforced the Constabulary’s checkpoints.
He cited one mission where the NPA ambushed his men, with Lt. Rosauro Toda – a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1986—among the fatalities.
Lacson noted the ambush was meant for him, had Toda’s reinforcing group not hit the ambush site ahead of the main force which he was leading.