THE Philippine Army said its recent use of loudspeakers mounted on military vehicles in parts of Surigao del Sur is part of a broader information campaign to counter misinformation and encourage communities to withdraw support for the New People’s Army (NPA).
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala told Manila Standard that the initiative was intended to directly reach out to residents in remote areas with “truthful information” amid continued efforts by communist rebels to influence local communities.
“The recently conducted loudspeaker operation in Surigao del Sur is part of the Philippine Army’s continuing efforts to directly reach residents in remote areas with truthful information and counter the misinformation spread by communist terrorist groups” Dema-ala said.
He explained that the initiative forms part of the Army’s ongoing information drive to raise awareness about what it called the “real evils” of the NPA, including alleged deceptive recruitment tactics and the group’s impact on peace, security, and development in affected areas.
