A PEACEFUL Christmas season, free from any threats by communist insurgents, is a strong indication that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is steadily weakening.
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) made this observance with the passing of a disturbance-free yuletide season.
“For the first time in recent history, the Filipino people are now confident in looking forward to celebrating Christmas and New Year without the looming specter of communist threats,” NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement.
Earlier reports said that around 88 out of 89 guerilla fronts have been dismantled by combined military and civilian operations spearheaded by the government.
“As they have been already weakened, and being weakened, they are no longer capable of staging major operations. They also have a leadership vacuum, and incapable of recruiting any more additional personnel into their ranks,” Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.
Nonetheless, Torres emphasized that the nation must stay steadfast in its efforts to combat the deceit, exploitation, and violence being perpetrated by the communist insurgents.
He also acknowledged that there is much work to be done despite these victories against the local insurgency.
“No system is perfect, and our nation’s progress demands constant vigilance and adaptation. Yet, the successes of the whole-of-nation approach demonstrate that unity, not division, is the key to lasting peace,” Torres said.
He stressed that national leaders, government agencies, and local chief executives must set aside political distractions and prioritize delivering essential services that build trust and drive progress, especially in conflict-affected communities, as outlined in the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace, and Development.
“By aligning their efforts and remaining committed to this shared vision, we can build a stronger ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ where peace, unity, and development thrive,” Torres added.
