MANILA – The goal of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s administration to make the Philippines insurgency-free by the end of 2028 is not impossible.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government’s convergence efforts can turn the vision into reality.
“Nakita ko sa assessment ko, it is very achievable kasi nakikita natin maganda ang pinapatunguhan ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa (In my assessment, it is very achievable because we can see that the country’s economy is promising),” he said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
“At the same time, nakita natin (we see that) the national agencies are now getting together to have a convergence to solve the basic issues and the drivers of conflict.”
He commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for ensuring that significant progress is made to weaken insurgent forces across the country.
From more than 80 guerrilla fronts, the active ones are now mainly in Samar, Bicol Region and Negros Island, Galvez noted.
He cited the Davao Region where the New People’s Army used to hold sway.
The Regional Peace and Order Council-Davao declared the entire region cleared of insurgents as of Sept. 19, 2022.
It was the third region in the country declared as insurgency-free following the Ilocos Region and Zamboanga Peninsula.
“Wala po tayong naririnig, nakita natin na mga engagement. Mostly, ang pinag-uusapan natin diyan is iyong ano ang livelihood project na ma-ibibigay natin doon sa mga nasa ibaba (We don’t hear of or see engagements anymore. Mostly, what we talk about are what livelihood projects we can provide),” he said.
Galvez said the comprehensive approach of the military, along with non-combat strategies, encouraged many rebels to return to mainstream society.
The government’s amnesty program has also allowed former rebels to regain their political and civil rights, Galvez said. (PND/PNA)
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