AIR SHOW President Marcos witnesses aerial maneuvers performed by Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel during a capability demonstration at Crow Valley Gunnery Range (Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base) in Capas, Tarlac. With the President are National Security Adviser Eduardo A帽o (left) and Lt. Gen. Stephen Parre帽o, PAF commanding general. (File photo dated July 3, 2023 taken by NI脩O JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� 鈥淢atatapos natin itong local armed Communist conflict. And from there, puro developments ang ating itataguyod and sisiguradihin natin yung delivery of services.鈥�
(We will finish this local armed Communist conflict. And from there, we will support just the developments and we will be certain about the delivery of services.)
鈥淲hat we can see in the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., finally matutuldukan.鈥�
(What we can see in the term of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr., finally it will be ended.)
National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo A帽o made these statements in a briefing in Malaca帽ang, as he talked about the rebellion of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People鈥檚 Army.
A帽o admitted insurgency cannot be totally eliminated, but he believes the issue may be brought down to a negligible point.
鈥淲hile we may not be able to attain this zero insurgents, but at least reduced to an irrelevant number that will not cause concern for peace and order,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey will become isolated and just become bandits, because of lost ideology and non-support from the people,鈥� he projected.
The national security adviser said once the rebellion has been wiped out, the military can already focus on security conflicts with other countries.
鈥淩ight now, we have so many geopolitical issues and challenges to face,鈥� he observed.
鈥淲e need the Armed Forces to now focus their eyes on external threats,鈥� he said.
A帽o thinks AFP should be concentrating on the defense of Philippine territories, amid China鈥檚 aggressive stance in West Philippine Sea.
He said one way to combat insurgency is for government to provide services that will raise the quality of life of people in rural areas.
Prior to the briefing, A帽o and other government officials had met with the President during the 2nd National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict executive committee meeting in Malaca帽ang.
Marcos had instructed the officials to continue efforts to end insurgency.
鈥淚t is in the law to specify priorities that will include those rebel returnees who have chosen to surrender and have decided to return to the fold of the law. These are all good efforts that we have to continue, (and) as I said, let us not sit on our laurels,鈥� Marcos said in the meeting, in a mix of English and Filipino.
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