AFP joins Duterte in calling Reds to lay down arms, reunite with society

The Armed forces of the Philippines echos President Rodrigo Duterte's call for the communist rebels of lay down  their arms and avail of the government's offer of peaceful, productive, and joyful life within the embrace of the community.

In a statement on Sunday, AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevaro said that many communist rebels have already surrendered and have been reunited with their families and with the community, noting that communist ideologue is already obsolete and discredited.

"Their so-called people’s revolution is already passé as more and more Filipinos—including the ones in their losing army of communists—have already realized the inutility of their pretended ideology that has now turned into terrorism of the people and the exploitation of their own," Arevalo said.

Also, Arevalo claimed that hundreds have already surrendered and those who are still in the mountains have already sent surrender feelers, realizing that while they stake their lives in the front lines, their leadership in Europe and in the cities luxuriate in the money the combatants earned through extortion.

According to Arevalo, "The government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program  (ECLIP) is in full swing to ensure that former rebels (FRs) will have a wholistic package of benefits that they can avail of such as, but not limited to, health, education, livelihood assistance, and legal assistance."

"This is the best time to surrender and avail of these benefits now being enjoyed by hundreds of FRs," Arevalo added. —LBG, GMA News