Eleazar: Gov’t gaining ground vs communists
PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday said efforts of all government agencies including state security forces, are paying off to finally end the more than 50-year-old communist insurgency.
In a meeting of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict, President Rodrigo Duterte said the CPP/NPA/NDF is “no longer relevant to the lives of the Filipino people” and that the government is winning the war against communist insurgency.
“The PNP agrees with President Duterte’s assessment that we are winning the war against communist insurgency and fully acknowledge the contributions of all government agencies and our LGUs in this endeavor,” said Gen. Eleazar.
However, the top cop assured that the PNP will not lower its guard in anticipation of possible attacks by the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF), which is desperate to prove it is still a force to reckon with.
“But we are not underestimating the capability of the remaining few especially in the coming election period when they could extort money that could be used to finance atrocities and recruitment and to undermine our democratic process come May 2022,” he said.
“Kasama ang grupong ito sa tinututukan natin ngayong halalan kaya inuulit natin ang ating babala sa mga kandidato na huwag makipag-kutsaba sa CPP-NPA-NDF dahil tinitiyak naming mananagot kayo kapag nahuli at napatunayan ng inyong PNP na nakikipag-tulungan kayo sa kanila para lang manalo,” he added.
The PNP chief pointed out that the public is now aware of the duplicity of the communist rebels who continue to pursue their pointless armed struggle.
He pointed out that the senseless killings by the communist rebels of innocent civilians, including those of former national and Far Eastern University football player Kieth Absalon and his cousin Nolven, and other atrocities committed on communities show that the CPP/NPA/NDF has been reduced to a criminal organization.
Gen. Eleazar assured that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is continuing its case build-up against the CPP/NPA/NDF for violation of International Humanitarian Law .
“Isasama ng CIDG sa asunto ang liderato ng CPP/NPA/NDF na siyang nagkukumpas sa pag-atake ng mga rebelde sa mga inosenteng sibilyan at ang paghasik ng karahasan sa ating mga komunidad,” he added.
Gen. Eleazar said included in the communist rebels’ violation of the IHL are its use of anti-personnel mines, recruitment of child warriors, and atrocities against innocent civilians.
