The national government’s peacekeeping interventions continue to gain headway, as the National Task Force for the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups (NTF-DPAGs) has disbanded 18 potential private armed groups operating in regions 9, 12, and Bangsamoro.
Just the other day, NTF DPAGs Vice Chairperson Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. reaffirmed the security sector’s full and strong support to the disbandment of private armed groups.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines, normally being deputized as law enforcers by the Philippine National Police, stands ready and able to support within the legal framework all efforts in order to have a nuanced and focused approach to the disbandment of PAGs,” Gibo Teodoro said.
NTF DPAGs Chairperson and Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur C. Abalos Jr. is confident that the task force will continue to play a crucial role in ensuring peace and security in Mindanao..
“This group is a very important group and we could do a lot… Let’s look forward to a peaceful Mindanao,” Abalos said.
Purisima also lauded the task force for its peacekeeping initiatives which are helping to push forward the peace processes in the country. .
“We, in OPAPRU, remain confident that the NTF DPAGs will be able to keep up its outstanding work, as we all continue to work together to help build on and sustain the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process,” he said.
“There is no doubt that the task force is making headway, as we help create the conditions where a just and long-lasting peace can take root and flourish. To the NTF DPAGs member agencies who are here today, thank you for your invaluable contribution, to making this vision a reality,” Purisima added.
Meanwhile , the lady governor of Quezon province gave her full support to the position of Secretary of National Defense Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. in rejecting any prospects of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), stressing that only through localized peace engagements can genuine peace be achieved.
“I agree with the observation of the secretary,” Gov. Angelina “Helen” de Luna Tan said during the weekly virtual press conference dubbed “Tagged Reloaded: Debunking Lies By Telling The Truth” hosted by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Tan also commended the military and police for their efforts and sacrifices in saving all the province’s 41 municipalities and cities from the violent activities of communist terrorist groups (CTGs).
Tan believed that ending the local communist armed contlict is a “statecraft” at the local level because everything starts at the barangay where NPA rebels coerced people into their side.VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ
