MAWAB, Compostela Valley — The government is eyeing a whole nation approach, where the security sector and government agencies support each other in peace and development initiatives to end the communist insurgency, a military official said Monday.
Philippine Army Chief Maj. Gen. Rolando Bautista said the objective is to address the root causes of insurgency as the government gears towards localized peace talks.
Bautista said the whole nation approach would be just one aspect in the localized peace talks while the other would be directly talking to the commanders of the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Nakikita naman natin, parang walang control yung ang liderato sa mga tauhan dito sa ground (As we can see the leaders – communists — have no control over their people on the ground),” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the 117th anniversary of the 10th Infantry Division in Tuburan, Mawab, Compostela Valley province.
Bautista said the government will directly approach the NPA ground commanders while other concerned government agencies will implement programs for the communities affected by insurgency.
“Lahat ng aspeto ay nasa localized peace talks. Ang security sector, pinatatahimik ang isang lugar. So tingnan kung paano suportahan angpeace and development sa isang area (All aspects are included in the localized peace talks wherein the security sector works on the peace and order. We will see how peace and development would be supported),” he said.
Bautista is looking at the Davao City Peace 911 as one model of the localized peace initiatives that focus on programs to address the root causes of insurgency, such as livelihood, improving or opening of farm-to-market roads, among others, to improve the socioeconomic condition of the area.
He said there are already peace initiatives in Bohol and some areas in Luzon.
The Army chief said President Rodrigo Duterte is setting the direction for the localized talks after a failed negotiation despite the administration’s effort to reach out to communist leaders, such as Jose Maria Sison.
“Nakikita ng gobyerno na baka dapat kausapin ang nasa baba (The government sees the need to really reach out to the people on the ground),” he added, saying this would be a better and faster way of solving the communist insurgency.
Bautista said the official guidelines for the local talks are already finished but it is not officially out.
He, however, confirmed that a task force has been created by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, which will work to end the communist insurgency in the Philippines. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
