AFP bats for NTF-ELCAC retention, cites lesser number of guerilla fronts

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed hope Thursday that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will be retained under the new administration.

“We acknowledge that NTF-ELCAC is really a very good tool. It unified the whole government infrastructure to address a multi-faceted insurgency problem,” AFP acting spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said during an online meeting with reporters when asked if the anti-insurgency task force  will be dissolved.

“We hope that this will continue because while we are addressing the symptom, the civil government will be addressing the root causes and the problem itself,” he said.

Aguilar said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has yet to give new directives on addressing the insurgency in the country.

He added that a security meeting with the new commander-in-chief will be set soon.

Asked if the AFP will make a commitment to end the insurgency within Marcos’ term, Aguilar said it is the duty of the military to suppress armed rebellion and violence in the country.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier instructed the AFP to end the insurgency during his term. Aguilar said the military may not be able to totally eradicate the communist rebels but they "have achieved significant gains in the conduct of military operations against the threat."

He said there were 89 guerilla fronts when Duterte started in 2016. The number was reduced to 23 or by 74% as of June 30 when Duterte finished his term.

The number of armed rebels was reduced to 2,000 but it is still being validated, Aguilar said.

According to him, around 25,000 rebels have already surrendered to authorities.—AOL, GMA News