By Rey Anthony Chiu
Philippine Information Agency
Yes, it can be done, admits Bohol’s 302nd Brigade Executive Officer Army Major Lao Lucas.
As key officer in the Bohol Army hierarchy, Maj. Lucas was asked if the Bohol success in using the government’s military hard power and the development’s soft power could also be effective as a template for other areas with similar problems.
Brigade Civil Military Operations Officer Major Anastacio Suaybaguio Jr also shared the same stand and added that as long as the local government units cooperate, the 35 year old insurgency problem in the country would not just diminish but may be completely eradicated.
Citing the major role of local government units in anti-insurgency drive, Maj. Lucas said in Bohol, the local government, especially the provincial government worked in tandem with the military in implementing the National Internal Security Plan (NISP).
He claimed that in Bohol, while the military take charge in clearing and holding villages affected by insurgency, the local government then sends in community organizers to organize, consolidate and develop the areas to prevent the insurgents from regaining control.
Clear, hold, consolidate or organize and develop have been the crucial points in the country’s internal security plan, Maj. Lao stressed.
The Bohol effort may be replicated all right, as long as the LGUs have the commitment to drive poverty and so would insurgency lose their grip, he said.
Even then, the government, through the LGUs needs to collaborate to play high-profile roles in the government’s campaign to end the 35 years communist insurgency problem in the country, both firmly said.
In Bohol, the template worked as from 284 armed rebels in 2001, the number dwindled to only 42 at present, military information reveal.
Both officials also reported that some 185 former rebels have gone back to the folds raising Bohol’s anti-insurgency scorecards and drawing national attention as well.
Still, Gov Erico Aumentado said a number of communist rebels have expressed interest in returning to the folds of the law and live normal lives, but they are afraid of being arrested and prosecuted for non-political crimes.
In related developments, Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the government is now studying the proposal of the Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) for Central Visayas for the grant of amnesty to the NPAs.
As this developed, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said that although talks between the government and the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NDF-CPP-NPA) have been stalled since 2004, the government will continue to pursue its peace initiatives through the LGUs.
He pointed out that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is determined to put an end to the communist insurgency in three years.
“Our initiative now is really to go to the locals (LGUs) and emulate the Bohol experience,†Dureza said.
The President has also signed last March Administrative Order 172 creating the National Committee on Social Integration to strengthen government efforts to help rebel returnees.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=3859.0
