Duterte orders creation of nat’l task force vs communist insurgency — Palace
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of a national task force that would address the armed conflict by local communists, a Malacanang official said.
In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte on Tuesday, October 30, convened the executive committee of the National Security Council at Ebuen Airbase in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, where they discussed “issues and concerns which disturb our national security.”
Panelo said Duterte discussed with relevant government officials the “recent anarchical activities” of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“The President was unwavering with regard to the issue as a result of the communist group’s efforts in infiltrating and overthrowing the government,” Panelo said.
“The Chief Executive likewise announced the creation of the National Task Force in order to address the armed conflict occasioned by the local communists,” he said.
Panelo said the President also ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) “to pursue the proscription case against the CPP-NPA-NDF as a terrorist organization.”
In February, the DOJ filed a petition before the Manila Regional Trial Court to formally declare the CPP-NPA a terrorist organization after Duterte signed Proclamation 374, which declared the communist group terrorists.
In the same meeting, Panelo said the President also directed an in-depth investigation into the shooting incident in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, which resulted in the deaths of nine farmers.
Duterte tagged the communist rebels in the killing in Sagay City, after the CPP said the nine farmers, all members of National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), were killed by paramilitary forces “financed by big Negros landlords and attached to the Philippine Army.”
The CPP also said Duterte and the Armed Forces of the Philippines were “washing their hands of blood” when police filed murder charges last week against several suspects, two of them members of NFSW who remain at large.
But Duterte said it was common for the communist rebels to kill their own troops and blame it on the government.
“The style of the communists is they kill their own comrades and blame in on the [government],” the President said.
Meanwhile, Duterte and his security officials also discussed the peace and order situation in Mindanao and the possible extension or lifting of martial law in the region, which is set to expire by the end of the year.
“Taking into account the lingering terrorist and communist threats, the EC-NSC (executive committee of the National Security Council) committed to put into study the possible lifting or further extension of martial law therein,” Panelo said.
He added that “factors that were initially considered by the committee were the outlook of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao, an overwhelming majority of whom support martial law in view of the present situation they are in, the facilitation it will bring in rehabilitating Marawi and regaining normalcy in Mindanao, and indispensable constitutional and legal factors.”
“The President is very much involved in various matters concerning our country but considers national security as one of the most vital concerns that must always be overseen by the government,” he added.
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