BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The statement of incoming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos that she has had enough with “peace talks” with communist rebels, and invite them to be “part of the change” is not far with the intent of the outgoing administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander.
What we see here is that, the current efforts when it comes to our internal threats, like that of the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorists, must continue, Arevalo said.
We all know what to do. Let’s just invite them to be part of the change. Let’s not exclude them. Include them in implementing this on the ground.
Enough with peace talks… We’re done with peace talks. We have agreement on certain things. Let’s proceed with that, Carlos earlier said in a television interview.
Arevalo said “We believe that the incoming NSA has personally witness the effectiveness of the whole of government and whole of nation approach in resolving our problem on insurgency.”
He added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines sees the significance of the NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force- Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict), the mechanism that brought Barangay Development Program to insurgency-affected barangays, that have been cleared.
Each insurgency-cleared barangay is getting P20 million worth of infrastructure projects, under the Barangay Development Program of NTF-ELCAC.
Arevalo said that those insurgency-cleared villages were given the opportunity to resolve all social issues, that the NPA use to influence them.
We are one with the incoming NSA, to continue the gains of the government, as far as insurgency problem is concern, he stressed.*
