Año leads demilitarization of 21 surrendered firearms in Calabarzon

February 23, 2020

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año led the demilitarization last week of 21 firearms surrendered by former rebels in Region IV-A as he lauded regional officials for their continued commitment to end the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC).

  “Today’s demilitarization of surrendered firearms is a giant leap towards our quest for peace, because in any armed struggle, having the ‘strongest stick’ means having the upper hand,” said Año during the ceremony at Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna.

  A former Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Año said that for the NPA combatants losing one’s weapon is like being stripped naked in battle.

  “No longer will these weapons be used to harm, threaten, and extort from the innocent. And no longer will their hands be tainted with guilt and blood,” he added.

  In his remarks, Año summed up the sentiments of majority of Filipinos when he said, “Fifty years of conflict is enough. We need to stop the insurgency now.”

  Año revealed that the government is planning “to give P20 million to each conflict-free barangay and P1.5 million to each conflict-threatened/affected barangay for development projects.”

  He recalled that since the present administration assumed office, 160 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front as well as their families have surrendered in Region IVA, and 116 of them have been provided with financial assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

  Año lauded the mayors of Calabarzon for taking the lead in the advocacy to end insurgency in the country.

He also commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for “bravely [standing] under fire and [helping] in the conduct of other ways to defeat the communism in the region. Thank you for tirelessly heeding the call of duty''.

Año especially commended DILG IV-A Regional Director Elias Fernandez for working hard to implement the ELCAC and being the first to establish a regional task force for it. 

  Also present during the ceremony were Presidential Adviser for Southern Tagalog Secretary Jose Maria Nicomendes Hernandez, DILG-NBOO (National Barangay Operations Office) Director Karl Caesar Rimando, Calabarzon police regional director Brig. Gen Vicente Danao, Jr., AFP Major Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, Jr., Task Force Balik-Loob Commander Edwin Ello, among others. DMS