Gov’t forces willing to help NPA members affected by typhoons

November 18, 2020

Government forces are willing to help even the members of New People's Army (NPA) who were affected by the recent typhoons.

"We believe that they are also affected by flooding as well as their families but for our part we do not choose who to help because at the end of the day they are still  Filipino citizens who are among the people whom we have sworn to serve and defend," said Maj. Marco Antonio Magisa, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command spokesman.

"Well, time and again we have been saying that the  doors to peaceful and normal lives are open for them," he said.

"We are consistent in our call and offer for help and assistance to them even before (Typhoon) Ulysses thru the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program where rebels and their families enjoy numerous grants and assistance as they reintegrate to mainstream society," Magisa noted.

"Flood or no flood, the government’s call for reconciliation and effort to help the NPA terrorists and their families are on the table," he added.

Magisa said as part of its disaster response the Northern Luzon Command is  coordinating to send military reservists to help flood-stricken Cagayan Valley.

He said Major General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr, Nolcom commander, bared the plan after his initial coordination with the AFP Reserve Command was presented and approved by the AFP chief Gen Gilbert Gapay.

“The Reserve Force has played a very significant and invaluable role during some of the most challenging of times in our country’s history — from the aftermath of Yolanda in Visayas to the post-explosion operations of Taal Volcano and, recently, the period of uncertainty during the outbreak of Covid-19”, said Burgos.

“The Philippines’ ‘strategic reserve’ in terms of human resource, thus, by sending them to ground zero, we will have enough manpower in the frontlines as efforts begin to transition to recovery and rehabilitation” he said.

Magisa said the reservists "will be complementing the deployed strategic assets of the AFP in Cagayan Valley as the military gears to expedite their post-disaster response operations."

He said the mobilization is taking place and the deployment of reserve units from Northern and Central Luzon are expected in a week.

Brig. General Ferdinand Fraginal, commander of AFPRESCOM, said that “the reserve force is at all times ready to heed the call of our beloved motherland be it in the defense of her flag during war or simply to be by the side of her devastated people in times of calamities.”

"Immediately after the initial planning meeting with Gen Burgos, I already tasked the regional community defense groups within Nolcom’s area of responsibility to muster our reservists and deploy them within 24 hours as follow on forces to the AFP’s current boots on the ground," he said.

Burgos said "the reservists will then be placed under Joint Task Force Tala, Nolcom’s operating arm in Region 2, which is working in close coordination with the emergency operations center of Cagayan Valley’s Office of Civil Defense as well as the governors of Cagayan and Isabela through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office."

Burgos commended the sense of patriotism and volunteerism of the military reserve force.

"Our reserve forces do not receive paychecks from the government, all they get are appreciation and admiration from a grateful national whose lives they touch and upon whose hearts and minds their deeds and sacrifices are forever written," he said. Robina Asido/DMS