MANILA — Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that it is the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) which was delusional in claiming that they could win and establish a communist government in the country.
The CPP issued this statement in wake of military pronouncements about the New People’s Army’s (NPA) capability to conduct large-scale depredation and extortion this year.
Lorenzana said that this statement was issued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) based on forward assessment backed by careful study, evidence-based evaluation and massive support from the local government units and communities
“Halos araw-araw ay nababalitaan natin ang pagbabalik-loob sa pamahalaan ng kanilang mga miyembro mula sa iba’t-ibang lalawigan at kabayanan dahil hindi na masikmura ng mga ito ang kabulukan ng kanilang sistema, at dahil na rin sa pagnanais nila ng kapayapaan at makabuluhang pagbabago, (Almost everyday, we hear news about their members all over the country who are surrendering to the government. It is because they cannot stand the rotten system of the group and they aim for peace and meaningful change.)” the DND chief said.
These series of surrenders forced the CPP-NPA to double their deceptive recruitment efforts, using social issues and twisting facts to gain support, targeting the vulnerable sectors of the society to include students, women, children, urban poor and cultural minorities, he added.
“Pero hindi na nila malilinlang kailanman ang taumbayan dahil lantad na ang kanilang totoong motibo at layunin. Hindi na nila maitatago ang ginagawa nilang pangingikil, paninira ng mga ari-arian at kabuhayan, pamimilit, pananakit at pagpatay, maging ng mga inosenteng sibilyan, (But they cannot fool the people anymore because their true motives are exposed. They cannot hide their extortion activities, destruction of property and livelihood, coercion, violence and murder of innocent civilians.)” the DND chief stressed.
Lorenzana also said that empty talk of the CPP-NPA would not diminish the troops’ resolve to finally put a stop to the communist-terrorists’ decades-long exploitation of indigenous peoples and rural communities.
“For far too long, they have impeded progress, denying the Philippines a chance to fully develop and depriving the Filipino people the opportunity to improve their quality of life,” he added.
With the AFP set to conduct more intensified activities and focused operations against the CPP-NPA, Lorenzana said the government’s arms remain widely open to those who wish to return to the fold of law.
“This administration is revitalizing the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) which offers livelihood assistance, immediate cash assistance and firearms remuneration to rebel returnees.
In addition, it offers a reintegration package that includes livelihood and capacity development trainings, all aimed at providing rebel returnees and their families social equity and a fair chance to be productive members of the society,” the DND chief emphasized. (PNA)
