Army and civilian officials on Monday lauded the local government unit (LGU) of Guihulngan City as the “best implementer” of the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) campaign in Negros Oriental province.
Maridel Gamo, local government operations officer of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Guihulngan, said the awarding is scheduled on Dec. 15 in this capital city.
She said the support of the LGU and other stakeholders to the local Task Force ELCAC has largely contributed to the government efforts against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
“For the information of everyone, Guihulngan City was adjudged the best ELCAC implementer for 2022..very grateful for the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 70 for a whole-of-nation approach because as you all know, the city has been threatened by the (insurgents),” Gamo said in mixed English and Cebuano.
With the assistance of the military, Gamo said the LGU gave its all-out support to EO 70, creating its local TF-ELCAC, and cascading this to all of the city’s 33 barangays.
Gamo was among the stakeholders given recognition by the 62nd Infantry “Unifier” Battalion (62IB), headed by its commanding officer, Lt. Col. William Pesase, during ceremonies to mark its 34th founding anniversary, held at its headquarters in Isabela, Negros Occidental.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who was the guest of honor and speaker, noted that Guihulngan’s example in response to the whole-of-government approach in ending the communist insurgency, reflects the campaign’s gains.
One of the notable activities of the Guihulngan TF-ELCAC, according to Pasaporte, is the LGU’s assistance to slain NPA rebels, such as providing a decent burial and assistance to the bereaved families.
He also cited the 62IB for its accomplishments in the past year in reducing the number of CPP-NPA members, specifically the Central Negros 1 guerilla front operating in the battalion’s area of operations.
The unit has helped weaken the guerilla front in Central Negros, Pasaporte said.
“We have shifted the tempo in our favor and with a little push of our whole-of-nation approach, which the local DILG emphasized, we are now seeing how effective the TF-ELCAC is, especially as we know that Guihulngan is a hotbed of the insurgency,” he added.
A lot of changes have taken place in the city over the past years, with civilians now cooperating with authorities, Pasaporte noted, as he expressed optimism that “we can clearly attain lasting peace in Negros Island”.
He congratulated the Unifier Battalion for its relentless efforts against the communist insurgency while reminding them of their mandate in achieving peace for a stable country.
Meanwhile, Pesase lined out his battalion’s accomplishments in terms of addressing the insurgency problem.
He said sustained military operations have led to the NPA striving to preserve their remaining forces “by trading space for time while waiting for the pullout of the operating units to conduct recovery of their organization and the consolidation of their mass bases and forces”.
Relentless legitimate combat operations against the CPP-NPA since the start of this year resulted in the neutralization and arrest of a total of 37 rebels.
Pasaporte and Pesase reiterated their call to the remaining NPA members in Guihulngan City and other parts of Negros to give up their armed struggle, surrender to authorities, and avail of government programs such as the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) so they can start a new life. (PNA)
