AFP chief praises NTF-ELCAC on dwindling rebel threat

CEBU, Philippines —  The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has described the operations of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) as a “game changer” in internal security as the threat of communist rebels reportedly reduced.

During his visit in the Visayas Command at Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City on Wednesday, AFP Chief of Staff, General Jose Faustino Faustino, has also tackled the assessment of the NTF-ELCAC now that the current administration is ending.

According to him, the country has attained a lot of successes in addressing insurgency in the country.

“We attained a lot of successes because of ELCAC, because of the realization na rin sa atin and the whole nation that this problem, the insurgency, can be solved by the whole of a nation-approach with all the government instrumentalities,” said Faustino.

Faustino said they are optimistic that they could attain their objective to put a stop to the conflict against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends.

“If we cannot reduce it totally, at least we could render it na ano lang, insignificant, ordinary criminal groups,” he said. — GMR (FREEMAN)