Año backs AFP’s push for inter-agency task force vs Red recruitment,

September 29, 2018

Days after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) discovered the Red October plot of the CPP/NDF/NPA ( Communist Party of the Philippines/National Democratic Front/ New People's Army) the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has declared its support for the AFP's call for the creation of an Inter-agency Task Force to quell the insurgency.

DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo Año said nipping communist recruitment in the bud entails a whole-of-government approach to address the socio-politico-economic problems that threaten the stability of the country.

“The government is cognizant that effectively ending insurgency requires not only police and military response but necessitates a triad of development, governance and security efforts,” he says.

Año says he concurs with AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. that civilian agencies and other stakeholders must be aware of and integrated in the whole-of-government strategy of quashing communist recruitment.

“Insurgency is rooted in poverty, inequality, and grievances that could be addressed by respective mandates of various government institutions. We have all the mechanisms to face these issues but all government agencies have to perform our roles in a concerted manner,” he said.

The DILG head, a former AFP Chief of Staff, said communist insurgency is not primarily a military or police problem but a ‘governance problem.’

"In fact we are are winning the battle in the mountains. There are so many surrenderers now. It's in the propaganda war and parliamentary battle that we are losing. The National Task Force will ensure that other government agencies help the DND and DILG in this effort," he said. DMS