To help end communist armed conflict: Labella creates local task force

CEBU, Philippines — Mayor Edgardo Labella has signed an Executive Order creating the Cebu City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

EO 028 is in line with the Executive Order President Rodrigo Duterte issued on December 4, 2018, which “institutionalized the Whole-of-Nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creating National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and directing the adoption of a National Peace Framework.”

Labella believes a task force here is needed to provide an efficient mechanism and structure in implementing the Whole-of-Nation approach.

The task force will formulate and implement a Cebu City peace framework in coordination with the National Government agencies, Local Government Units (LGU) and civil society, and will develop functions and integrate policies and programs contained in the peace framework.

The Whole-of-Nation approach will “address the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, facilitating societal inclusivity, and ensuring active participation of all sectors of the society in the pursuit of the country’s peace agenda.”

The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2021 aims to attain inclusive and sustainable peace through intensified development and other peace-building initiatives in conflicted affected and vulnerable communities.

In March 2010, Cebu province had been declared insurgency-free by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The lead role in the maintenance of its internal security had been turned over to the local executives and the police.

A resolution was even signed jointly by the local officials, Philippine National Police, and the AFP during the formal turnover ceremony held in Balamban town. It was stated in the resolution that all 44 municipalities and eight cities in Cebu are already free from the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Samar Incident

Meanwhile, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino condemned the recent ambush in Eastern Samar that killed six and wounded 20 Philippine Army soldiers.

He called on the government to put a stop to armed insurgence.

"I strongly condemn the incessant attacks from these communist rebels of the New People’s Army. They have terrorized this country for very long and it is about time to end this perennial conflict," Dino said in a press statement.

"As our armed forces continue to neutralize this armed insurgence, we in OPAV together with other national government agencies continue to spread this campaign through our Serbisyong Malasakit to cover all the far-flung areas in the Visayas with government services," Dino said.

He also called on rebels to surrender and come back to the fold of the law – or be dealt with accordingly. He said the government will undertake to give their all-out support so that these rebels may start anew in life.

"We will be providing you with the basic services so that you too may feel that the government under this administration is really working to provide a happy and comfortable life for all," Dino said. (FREEMAN)